UC-NRLF 


B    3    325    313 


!      11    1 


JUlliiMHIIIIII  :  Wit  I 


H! 


■mm 


Jill  Hi 

His  li 


ii 


HnUIH-UI  j       j  |] 


jitp 


iwii 


If  III  it i  il 


H  III*!     Ji 


ill  I 

muni 


I  ill 

!   1      Hi'    Ii      SHl 


•iiiiiii 


M 


''■■in1 


inn  ui 


ii  i' 


i 


11 


wHBmm 


WWM 


ri> 


■a" 


flpilliiiitliiliilitflii  iflM 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 
THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.KOFOID 


■*"<?  , 


SCKIBBLINGS  AND  SKETCHES, 


IPLOMATIC,  PISCATORY,  AND  OCEANIC. 


BY 

A  FISHER  IN  SMALL  STREAMS. 

SECOND  EDITION.  WITH  ADDITIONS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

C.    SHERMAN,    PRINTER, 

ST.  JAMES  STREET. 

1844. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844, 

BY  C.  SHERMAN, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


W 

TO 

•OS  MOST  CELESTIAL  MAJESTY  KIANG-FOO, 

EMPEROR   OF    CHINA, 
AND    BROTHER    TO    THE    SUN    AND    MOON. 

:eply  sensible  of  the  favours  it  has  pleased  your 
■rtial  Majesty  at  divers  and  sundry  times  to  bestow, 
and  grateful  for  the  distinguished  facilities  afforded  me 
in  the  early  publication  of  some  of  your  mighty  procla- 
ims— with  all  respect,  I  dedicate  the  following  pages 
to  your  Imperial  Majesty. 

io  so,  with  a  belief,  that  your  Serenity  will  not  only 
be  amused  by  them  at  your  autumnal  palace  of  Yuen- 
min-Yuen,  upon  the  banks  of  the  sparkling  Taie-ho; 
but  that  they  will  give  your  Majesty  some  insight  into 
the  mysteries  of  barbaric  diplomacy,  which,  it  has 
pleased  your  Majesty  privately  to  inform  me,  owing  to 
some  late  incidents,  you  were  anxious  to  comprehend, 
mgst  so  many  sovereigns,  to  be  selected  by  your 
Imperial  Majesty  as  worthy  of  your  confidence,  I  esteem 
a  most  signal  mark  of  favour;  and  with  no  disposition 
verrate  my  literary  effusions,  yet  I  feel  confident 
youi;  Majesty  will  derive  quite  as  much  instruction,  if 
not  more,  than  any  other  reader  from  my  little  volume. 

m3?0?28 


IV  DEDICATION. 

If  it  should  please  your  Celestial  Highness  to  be  fond 
of  fishing,  the  letters  of  Isaac  Walton,  Jr.,  are  most 
particularly  recommended  to  your  notice.  They  pre- 
tend to  no  literary  merit,  but  are  the  effusions  of  a 
plain  man,  in  character  with  his  life  and  the  primitive 
simplicity  of  his  peaceful  sport. 

The  immortal  Confucius  has  declared,  that 

Hong-hse  chulan-tee  to  war  ti  bung, 
Con  owhar  spung  ti  nittle  colee  tung. 

"  Patience  and  perseverance  are  cardinal  virtues,  and 
without  which,  man  cannot  hope  for  success  in  life." 
Isaac  affords  some  striking  and  practical  illustrations 
of  the  truth  of  the  precept,  which  may  be  useful  to  your 
sedentary  subjects,  and  perhaps  salutary  in  their  effects 
upon  those  of  a  more  roving  and  unquiet  disposition. 

Seldom  aspiring  beyond  a  glorious  nibble,  his  perse- 
verance has  been  rewarded  in  having  caught  the  atten- 
tion of  an  emperor. 

"  To  catch  a  Tartar,"  has  not  heretofore  been 
esteemed  a  desirable  event  or  one  to  boast  of;  but  we 
apprehend  the  world  will  concede  the  present  instance 
to  be  a  brilliant  exception. 

The  immeasurable  distance  between  your  Majesty's 
golden  throne,  and  the  "  Fisher  in  Small  Streams," 
affords  him  but  a  telescopic  view  of  your  magnificence, 
warmed,  however,   and   cherished  by  those   mitigated 


DEDICATION. 


beams  into  an  ephemeral  and  fluttering  existence  with- 
out the  danger  of  being  singed  by  the  intolerable  efful- 
gence. It  is,  therefore,  a  subject  more  for  congratula- 
tion than  regret ;  though  prevented  the  honour  of  per- 
sonally bumping  his  head  at  your  Imperial  footstool 
according  to  the  ceremony  of  the  Ko-leou.  A  ceremony 
founded  upon  principles  of  the  profoundest  wisdom,  and 
which  should  be  strictly  enforced  upon  every  candi- 
date for  literary  favour,  more  especially  in  my  country, 
where  the  brain  is  supposed  to  be  the  seat  of  intelligence, 
and  the  capability  of  the  author  might  quickly  be  ascer- 
tained by  the  peculiar  sound  of  his  skull  when  perform- 
ing these  prostrations.  The  Chinese  theory,  however, 
that  the  stomach  is  the  seat  of  the  soul,  is  plausible,  more 
especially  as  most  of  our  distinguished  literary  men 
have  no  stomachs  to  brag  of,  wasted  perhaps  by  their 
untiring  exertions.  With  the  passing  remark,  that 
amongst  Barbarians  there  is  a  sort  of  abstract  Kiang- 
Foo,  called  public  opinion,  at  which  authors  great  and 
small  must  all  bow,  and  before  which  the  subscriber 
prostrates  himself  with  great  humility  for  want  of  a 
better,  he  remains  with  high  consideration  and  respect, 
your  Majesty's  friend,  co-sovereign  and  servant. 

A  Fisher  in  Small  Streams. 


PEEFACE. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  I  have  dedicated  this  little 
work  to  the  Emperor  of  China, — and  in  selecting  that 
distinguished  individual,  I  have  been  impelled  by  many 
wise  and  discreet  considerations.  Some  may  possibly 
deem  the  selection  an  ostentatious  one,  a  wish  upon  my 
part  to  publish  to  the  world  my  intimacy  and  friendship 
with  that  august  personage.  But  I  most  unequivocally 
deny  any  such  motives.  The  Emperor  has  been  in- 
formed that  we  are  a  community  of  sovereigns,  that 
a  private  station  is  the  post  of  honour,  and  that  we 
hire  individuals  to  perform  subordinate  stations,  such  as 
Presidents,  Secretaries,  and  the  like,  with  the  privilege 
of  abusing  them.  He  therefore,  has  been  pleased  to 
consider  me  upon  an  equality  with  him  in  every  respect, 
having  first  assured  him,  not  only  that  I  held  no  office, 
but  had  no  expectation  of  receiving  one.  It  has  also, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  been  intimated  that  I  am  actuated  by 
mercenary  motives,  with  an  eye  to  a  cumshaw  or  pre- 
sent from  the  Emperor,  for  the  honour  done  him.  The 
cumshaw  svstem  is  not  a  bad  one,  but  I  disclaim  any 


V1U  PREFACE. 

such  intentions.  Though  if  the  Emperor  were  to  send 
me  a  very  handsome  present,  in  the  shape  of  tea,  silks, 
or  even  crockery,  I  frankly  confess  I  should  feel  myself 
bound  to  accept  it.  But  literary  men  so  seldom  receive 
any  thing  but  hard  rubs,  that  I  am  afraid  these  declara- 
tions are  very  idle  and  superfluous.  Indeed,  gentle 
reader,  I  am  perfectly  content  to  receive  no  other  re- 
ward for  my  humble  labours,  than  your  attention,  and 
your  good-will. 

The  Author. 


SKETCHES 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

"  To  ride  the  cloud-aspiring  waves, 
And  hear  amid  the  rending  tackle's  roar 
The  spirit  of  an  equinoctial  gale." 

Tobin. 

"  The  dreadful  spout 
Which  shipmen  do  the  Hurricano  call, 
Constring'd  in  mass  by  th'  almighty  sun, 
Dizzies  with  clamour  Neptune's  watery  ear." 

Shakspeare. 

The  town  of  Trinidad,  upon  the  south  side  of  the 
island  of  Cuba,  presents  a  very  picturesque  appearance 
from  the  sea.  The  dark  blue  mountains  of  St.  Juan, 
rising  to  the  height  of  three  thousand  feet,  form  the  back- 
ground of  the  picture,  throwing  the  town  into  fine  relief 
with  its  white  walls  and  turrets.  At  a  distance,  it 
appears  like  a  white  blur  upon  the  mountain-side.  In 
any  other  region  than  the  tropics  it  might,  at  first  glance, 
be  mistaken  for  a  drift  of  snow,  or  a  cloud  resting  upon 
the  dark  mountain's  side,  but  the  one  is  as  impossible  as 
the  other,  for,  during  the  dry  season,  from  October  till 
April,  not  even  a  wreath  of  mist  floats  in  the  pure  ether 
by  day,  or  dims  the  brilliancy  of  the  spangled  blue  of 
night.    Gradually  from  this  white  obscure  are  shadowed 

2 


12  A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

very  moment  turning  over  in  his  mind  the  probable 
chances  of  success  for  a  dinner,  already  having  failed  in 
procuring  a  breakfast.  The  light  blue  eye,  fair  hair,  and 
ruddy  complexion  disclosed  at  a  glance  his  Anglo-Saxon 
blood ;  and  as  he  gazed  at  the  dark-eyed  sun-burnt  fea- 
tures that  surrounded  him,  there  was  an  expression  which 
seemed  to  say — "  Let  it  blow  the  whole  island  over  to 
Africa  for  aught  I  care:  I  have  neither  kith  nor  kin 
here,  and  am  as  penniless  as  a  Spanish  beggar."  Some- 
thing out  of  the  common  order  of  events  appeared  to 
animate  the  group;  some  were  collected  together  apart, 
in  earnest  conversation ;  others  were  mounting  horses 
and  scampering  off  to  the  Casilda,  whilst  a  party  upon 
the  house-top  were  gazing  through  spy-glasses  at  the 
sea.  The  youth,  before  described,  inquired  of  an  indi- 
vidual who  had  just  come  down,  and  who  closed  his 
glass  with  a  snap  that  shattered  the  instrument,  exclaim- 
ing at  the  same  time,  "  Caraho,  she's  gone !" — 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Senor  ?  there  seems  to  be  a 
screw  out  of  place  somewhere :  what  is  it  1" 

"Why,  Senor  Americano,  mio,  there  is  a  barque 
outside  there,  in  which  we  are  all  interested — a  good 
half  million  of  freight, — that  is  likely  to  be  swamped  by 
this  infernal  hurricane,  or  nabbed  by  John  Bull,  that's 
all." 

The  youth  spoken  to,  mounted  the  steps  and  was 
quickly  upon  the  parapet.  Almost  all  the  houses  of 
Trinidad  are  constructed  with  flat  roofs,  with  a  parapet 
about  three  feet  high,  for  the  purpose  of  catching  rain 
water  during  the  wet  season. 

Upon  reaching  the  parapet,  he  was  astonished  at  the 
sudden  change  from  a  breathless  calm  to  a  furious  gale 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE.  13 

with  every  premonition  of  one  of  those  terrible  hurri- 
canes that  sometimes,  in  a  single  hour,  lav  waste  whole 
districts.  The  inhabitants  were  hurrying  to  shelter  in 
the  greatest  trepidation,  closing  their  shops  and  barri- 
cading their  doors  and  windows — the  streets  were 
already  strewed  with  fragments  of  roofs  and  broken 
tiles  torn  from  their  fastenings  by  the  first  fury  of  the 
blast.  The  vultures,  those  licensed  scavengers  of  every 
West  India  town,  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  skimming  over 
the  tops  of  houses,  or  soaring  to  a  great  height  in  gigantic 
circles,  were  now  crouching  beneath  the  parapets,  and 
the  atmosphere  was  filled  with  flocks  of  screaming  sea 
gulls,  driven  from  their  habitations  upon  the  coasts  and 
numerous  islands,  by  the  irresistible  fury  of  the  wind. 

A  drift,  like  smoke,  rolled  over  the  ocean  and  spread 
across  the  land  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  At  intervals, 
the  surface  of  the  sea,  to  the  utmost  limits  of  the  wide 
extended  horizon,  w7as  distinctly  visible,  lashed  into  a 
foam,  and  whirled  aloft  in  wreaths  of  spray  from  the 
tops  of  the  curling  waves. 

Two  vessels  wTere  distinctly  seen,  scudding  before  the 
wind  under  close-reefed  topsails.  Onward  they  both 
came  with  the  speed  of  race-horses,  the  one  further  sea- 
ward, from  the  cut  of  her  canvass  and  squareness  of 
yards,  evidently  a  man-of-war,  in  full  chase.  As  she 
rose  upon  a  swell,  her  long  dark  hull  and  line  of  ports 
were  visible ;  from  the  bowT  at  the  same  moment  issued 
a  volume  of  smoke,  which  as  suddenly  was  swept  away 
by  the  wind,  and  mingled  with  the  floating  spray  and 
haze,  and  ere  the  sound  of  the  cannon  had  reached  the 
shores,  (in  low,  suppressed  murmurs,)  the  Spanish  barque 
had  rounded   Cayo  Blanco,  dropped  her  anchors,  and 


14        A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

swung  round  to  the  wind.  The  man-of-war  came 
dashing  in  after,  under  bare  poles,  her  close-reefed 
foresail  but  a  few  moments  before  having  been  blown 
clean  out  of  the  bolt-ropes,  and  whirled  off  to  leeward, 
twisting  and  twirling  about  until  it  wTas  lost  in  the  haze 
that  covered  every  thing  with  an  impenetrable  veil ;  but 
ere  the  two  vessels  were  closed  from  view,  it  was 
evident  that  the  man-of-war  had  passed  close  under  the 
stern  of  the  slaver,  and  was  riding  upon  the  swell  with 
four  anchors  ahead. 

The  gale  now  had  increased  almost  to  a  hurricane. 
It  was  with  difficulty  the  youth  could  maintain  his  posi- 
tion upon  the  parapet ;  he  therefore  went  down  to  the 
store  and  mingled  with  the  anxious  group  collected  there. 

It  was  conceded  by  all,  that  the  Esperanza,  for  such 
was  the  name  of  the  slaver,  was  a  gone  case.  If  she  rode 
out  the  gale,  which  was  very  improbable,  the  Stag,  a 
well-known  British  cruiser,  would  certainly  capture  her; 
and  if  the  hurricane  increased,  as  there  was  every  like- 
lihood, both  vessels  must  be  wrecked,  with  the  chance 
of  all  hands  perishing. 

One  said,  he  would  sell  his  interest  for  fifty  ounces  ;* 
another,  for  five  hundred :  all  appearing  to  think  the 
chances  so  perfectly  desperate,  as  scarcely  worth  an 
hour's  purchase.  The  hero  of  our  story  listened  to  every 
thing  with  the  deepest  interest ;  at  last  he  stepped  boldly  up 
to  one  of  the  gentlemen  and  said  : 

"  Come,  sir,  what  did  you  say  you  would  take  for 
your  interest  in  that  ship  V9. 

"  I'll  take  five  hundred  ounces,  and  that's  selling  what, 

*  An  ounce,  or  gold  doubloon,  about  sixteen  dollars. 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE.        15 

if  all  had  gone  right,  would  fetch  at  the  Baracoon  this 
day,  fifty  thousand  dollars." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  stranger,  "  but  she  will  never  come 
ashore  except  in  pieces.  Look  at  that ! — there  goes  the 
roof  off  of  Don  Vincente's  house,  as  clean  as  a  whistle. 
The  hurricane  is  up — it  will  tear  that  ship  to  pieces  in 
less  than  an  hour.  I'll  give  you  one  hundred  ounces  for 
your  share,  and  take  my  chance." 

"  Paga !  it's  a  bargain  !"  cried  the  Spaniard.  "  John 
Bull  has  got  her,  I  believe,  already.  La  Esperanza  must 
have  drifted  down  upon  him  ere  this." 

Seven  or  eight  shares  were  purchased  upon  the  spot, 
and  a  bargain  made  with  the  others, — who  appeared  to 
view  our  friend  in  no  other  light  than  a  madman, — that  if 
he  saved  the  ship  and  cargo,  he  was  to  receive  twenty- 
five  per  cent,  upon  the  gross  amount. 

No  sooner  was  the  negotiation  concluded,  and  the 
writings,  which  were  hastily  drawn,  safely  deposited  in  his 
pocket,  than  he  bounded  forth  into  the  storm,  with  a  cry 
of  "  A  dios  senores!"  and  was  lost  in  the  gloom  which 
shrouded  every  thing  without. 

Onward  he  dashed,  reckless  of  the  thousand  dangers 
that  threatened  to  annihilate  him  at  every  step,  from 
showers  of  tiles  and  broken  parapets  hurled  at  his  feet  by 
the  wind,  which,  though  not  yet  at  its  height,  was  howl- 
ing above  his  head  with  great  fury,  occasionally  licking 
up  the  dust  and  pebbles  in  whirling  eddies,  and  then 
spattering  it  into  his  face  with  such  force,  as  not  only  to 
blind,  but  for  a  time  to  cause  him  to  reel  and  stagger. 

A  brave  man  might  well  have  cowered  beneath  that 
blast— but  our  youth,  with  a  spirit  of  the  highest  order, 
and  a  consciousness  of  his  own  merits,  had  felt,  deeply 


16  A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

felt,  the  pangs  of  a  crushing  poverty.  Here  was  a 
chance — a  terrible  one,  to  be  sure;  if  he  failed,  it  would 
be  death  in  the  excitement  of  battle;  if  he  succeeded, 
a  double  reward  awaited  him, — a  magnificent  fortune, 
and  the  preservation  of  the  lives  of  a  thousand  helpless 
beings. 

Upon  emerging  from  the  town,  the  road  lay  before 
him  in  almost  a  straight  line,  for  three  miles,  to  the  little 
village  of  Casilda.  From  this  point,  on  a  clear  day, 
the  eye  can  embrace  a  view  of  two  hundred  miles  of  sea, 
from  north  to  south ;  but  now,  the  road  upon  which  he 
was  ploughing  his  way,  was  scarcely  discernible  twenty 
yards  ahead.  Onward  he  laboured,  occasionally,  when 
the  blast  with  uncommon  fury  swept  across  his  path, 
seeking  a  temporary  shelter  beneath  the  hedges  formed 
by  the  prickly  pear  and  wild  pine  apple — beneath  whose 
interwoven  branches  clattered  thousands  of  land-crabs, 
on  their  way  to  the  sea  from  the  mountains.  An  army 
of  these  creatures  crossed  his  path  ;  regardless  of  the 
countless  uplifted  hands  from  this  strange  multitude,  he 
crashed  through  the  array,  kicking  from  his  feet  some 
half  dozen,  that  had  fastened  upon  his  legs  with  their  long 
pincering  claws. 

The  sea  was  swollen  far  beyond  its  natural  bounda- 
ries. The  streets  of  the  village  were  overflowed,  and 
where,  but  a  few  hours  before,  the  gay  volante  had 
whirled  up  the  dust  upon  a  sandy  road,  now  were 
covered  with  boats  adrift,  floating  logs,  casks  and  mer- 
chandise of  every  description. 

Every  minute  marked  a  sensible  increase  of  the  power 
of  the  wind ;  occasionally,  vast   bodies  of  water  were 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE.        17 

scooped  up  by  the  mighty  hand  of  the  tempest  and 
crushed  into  vapour,  or  fell  far  from  where  they  had  been 
torn,  in  showers  of  brine.  The  foam  of  the  sea  floated 
over  head  like  flakes  of  snow.  The  incessant  roll  of 
tropical  thunder,  heaven's  heaviest  artillery,  reverbe- 
rated from  the  mountain's  base,  and  was  mingled  with 
the  roar  of  the  wind  and  surf,  which  pealed  upon  the 
shores  of  the  neighbouring  islands,  occasionally  flashing 
up  through  the  thick  haze,  pyramids  of  foam  and  spray. 

After  wading  and  floundering  through  ponds  of  water, 
under  the  lee  of  a  large  store,  he  encountered  a  fisher- 
man by  the  name  of  Antonio,  a  hardy  fellow,  one  of  the 
best  pilots  of  the  port.  To  him  he  immediately  made 
known  his  intention,  and  offered  him  a  thousand  dollars 
if  he  would  accompany  him  with  his  boat  on  board  the 
slaver. 

"Why,  Senor,"  said  Antonio,  "  you  must  be  mad.  We 
should  be  swamped,  for  a  dead  certainty  ;  and  what  good 
could  we  do,  suppose  we  reached  her  V 

"  I'll  make  your  fortune !"  was  the  prompt  reply. 
"  Does  she  still  hold  on  ?" 

"  Si,  Senor." 

"  And  how's  the  cruiser  ?" 

"  Oh,  tight  enough — with  four  anchors  out — two  chain 
cables.  She'll  founder  at  her  anchors,  if  this  gale  in- 
creases." 

"  We  can  paddle  under  the  lee  of  the  mangrove  bushes 
of  the  strip  of  land  over  the  other  side  of  the  harbour, 
till  we  come  to  the  fort,  then  before  the  wind,  you  pull- 
ing, I  bailing,  in  three  minutes  we  can  fetch  the  slaver ; 
once  on  board  I'll  show  you  we  can  save  her." 

Still  Antonio  doubted,  wavered  ;  all  the  eloquence  of 


18  A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

argument,  and  stout  assurances,  with  scorn  of  danger, 
appeared  not  in  the  least  to  stagger  his  determination  to 
decline  the  perilous  adventure. 

"  Lend  me  your  boat,  then.  By  Heaven  !  I'll  go  alone  ; 
and  when  I  meet  you  to-morrow,  with  five  thousand 
Spanish  doubloons  in  my  chest,  you'll  curse  yourself  for 
not  having  had  the  courage  to  follow." 

"  Stop  one  moment.     How  much  say  you  V 

At  that  instant  a  crash  of  thunder  made  the  earth 
tremble  beneath  their  feet,  accompanied  by  a  flash  that 
pierced  through  the  gloom,  illuminating  every  object 
with  a  lurid  glare,  the  foam  flakes  sailing  through  the 
air  like  myriads  of  floating  brands  of  fire ;  at  the  same 
instant  a  transient  glance  was  caught  of  the  two  vessels, 
reeling  and  plunging  at  their  anchors. 

"  Two  thousand  doubloons !"  cried  the  indomitable 
stranger,  in  a  voice  clear  as  a  trumpet,  every  word  dis- 
tinctly heard  by  Antonio,  above  the  roar  of  the  elements. 

"  Agreed — come  on  !"  and  they  jumped  into  the  boat, 
Antonio  exclaiming  at  the  same  time,  "  Another  such 
a  clap  of  thunder  as  that,  and  good-bye  hurricane."* 

After  great  difficulty,  and  the  escape  from  many 
dreadful  blasts,  they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  opposite 
shore ;  but  the  sea  made  a  clear  breach  across  the  strip 
of  land,  and  though  broken  by  the  mangrove  bushes,  yet 
the  surge  rolled  over  into  the  harbour  with  terrible  force. 
The  boat  was  light,  and  pulled  by  vigorous  and  skilful 
hands  ;  in  a  short  time  they  reached  the  deserted  fort, 
under  the  lee  of  which  they  rested  for  a  few  moments, 
and  braced  their  nerves  for  the  great  struggle,  when  they 

*  The  invariable  indication  of  a  clearing  off. 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE.        19 

should  be  exposed  to  the  full  fury  of  the  wind  and  waves, 
the  frail  bark  being  as  yet  protected  by  the  land  under 
which  they  had  for  an  hour  laboured  their  perilous  pas- 
sage. Antonio  ejaculated  a  short  prayer,  crossed  him- 
self very  devoutly  some  half  dozen  times,  then  seizing 
the  oars,  cried  out — 

"  Here  goes.  We  can't  miss  her.  She  lies  dead  to 
leeward  of  that  reef." 

The  boat  shot  forth  from  her  cover,  and  was  imme- 
diately whirled  round  by  the  wind,  one  of  the  oars 
escaping  from  his  hand  ;  it  was  caught  in  a  minute  by 
his  companion,  ere  the  rower  had  time  to  utter  the  cry 
of  terror  the  accident  occasioned. 

The  sea  was  like  a  turbulent  field  of  snow ;  the  spray 
flew  past  them  with  terrible  velocity— a  single  wave,  ere 
it  could  lift  its  head  on  high,  was  cut  off  into  foam,  and 
mist  and  smoke ;  with  the  speed  of  an  arrow  shot  from 
a  bow,  did  they  skim  and  gurr  through  the  water.  When 
the  American  cried  out,  "  Starboard  oar — hard  a  star- 
board," it  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  bark  swirled 
round  the  stern  of  the  slaver,  and  as  she  touched  her  dark 
hull,  the  adventurers  seized  the  mizen  chains,  and  in 
less  time  than  we  have  taken  to  describe  it,  wTere  safely 
upon  the  deck  :  the  boat  being  swamped  beneath  the  gun- 
wales of  the  ship  as  she  rolled  to  leeward. 

The  storm  was  now  at  its  height — the  captain  was 
upon  his  knees  crossing  himself,  and  crying  out  to  that 
God  for  mercy,  whose  divine  precepts  he  had  forgotten, 
when  he  entered  into  the  dreadful  traffic  of  his  fellow- 
men. 

At  every  plunge  of  the  vessel,  the  water  poured  over 
her  bows  and  deluged  the  decks.     From  the  bosom  of 


20        A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE. 

the  labouring  craft  issued  a  yell  of  mingled  agony  and 
terror,  from  eight  hundred  souls  confined  below,  which 
mingled  with  the  blast,  and  must  have  been  heard  far 

o 

inland  by  the  distant  Aldeano*  who  might  fancy  that  a 
thousand  fiends  were  shrieking  in  the  elemental  strife 
above. 

"  Where's  your  axe  ? — give  it  me  !  Antonio  take  ano- 
ther. Where  is  the  cruiser?  I  see  her — we  can  clear 
her.  Hard  a  port  your  helm.  All  hands  run  up  the 
fore-topmast  stay-sail— cut !"  rapidly  uttered  the  daunt- 
less youth. 

The  cables  were  severed  at  a  blow,  the  sail  burst  from 
the  bolt-ropes,  the  ship  rose  upon  a  roller  crested  with 
foam,  careened  round  before  the  blast,  and  under  the 
impulse  of  the  hurricane,  dashed  madly  towards  the 
shore,  passing  the  cruiser  like  a  phantom,  and  disappear- 
ing amidst  the  haze  and  drift  and  surf;  —  in  a  moment 
after  she  struck.  A  tremendous  roller  lifted  her  again 
from  the  ground,  and  after  several  successive  shocks,  she 
plunged  into  comparatively  smooth  water. 

The  next  morning  the  Esperanza  lay  high  and  dry  a 
half  mile  from  the  shore,  and  landed  her  cargo  in  safety. 
And  before  night  the  bold  and  penniless  adventurer  was 
in  possession  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars — his  well- 
earned  share  of  a  cargo,  valued  at  that  time,  at  nearly 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars;  whilst  the  British  cruiser 
was  content  to  weigh  anchor  and  renew  his  honourable 
efforts  against  a  trade  now  almost  universally  denounced 
the  worst  of  piracy. 

The   hero   of  our   sketch    has   since  acquired  great 

*  Cottager. 


A  FORTUNE  FOUNDED  ON  A  HURRICANE.        21 

wealth,  and  possesses  an  income  of  some  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  per  annum,  and  is  a  Grandee  of  Spain, 
with  several  titles  of  distinction. 

It  is  nearly  forty  years  since  this  incident  occurred. 
He  still  enjoys  excellent  health,  and  in  the  conduct  of 
his  affairs  is  distinguished  for  that  energy  which  marked 
his  first  career — as  well  as  for  every  other  quality  that 
can  adorn  the  character  of  a  gentleman. 

So  much  for  making  the  best  of  a  chance ;  the  first 
instance,  we  suppose,  of  doubloons  being  coined  out  of  a 
hurricane, 


A  BURIAL  BY  THE  SEA-SIDE. 


Oh  !  place  him  on  the  shore— that  grave  will  be 
Fit  resting-place  for  him  who  loved  the  sea ; 
And  let  the  surges  make  their  ceaseless  moan, 
Where  lies  the  stranger,  tombless  and  alone." 

Anon. 

The  shades  of  night  were  thickening  round  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  whilst  the  hill-tops  were  yet  gilded  by 
the  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  whose  broad  disk  was 
slowly  sinking  into  the  bosom  of  the  Caribbean  sea. 

The  twinkling  stars  of  a  tropical  twilight  already 
gemmed  the  firmament. 

Like  a  jewelled  coronet,  the  departing  luminary  for  a 
moment  glowed  upon  the  dark  waters  of  the  horizon, 
and  then  disappeared  beneath  the  wave.  As  yet,  his 
beams,  unquenched,  streamed  forth  from  that  bright 
pavilion  to  the  zenith,  and  spread  a  golden  mantle  over 
the  quiet  landscape.  The  purple  mountain  and  the  dis- 
tant cape  were  seen  through  a  beautiful  thin  mist  of 
powdered  gold.  That  breeze  which  had  waved  all  day 
the  branches  of  the  cocoa,  and  graceful  palm,  and  ruffled 
the  sea  into  innumerable  white  caps,  had  died  away. 
Not  a  leaf  rustled  upon  the  mountain's  side,  or  stirred 
the  lono;  rank  sjrass  of  the  savanna.  The  bav  was  like 
a  polished  mirror,  distinctly  reflecting  the  inverted  images 
of  the  numerous  craft  that  reposed  upon  its  glassy  sur- 


A  BURIAL  BY  THE  SEA-SIDE.  23 

face,  occasionally  rimpled  into  feathery  streaks  by  the 
breath  of  a  loitering  zephyr,  unwilling  to  abandon  the 
shores  now  redolent  of  the  perfume  of  flowers  and  a 
luxuriant  vegetation. 

In  the  shadowy  places,  the  Cuculla*  was  trimming  his 
evening  lamp,  and  sparkled  upon  the  bushes  or  streamed 
through  the  air  his  phosphorescent  light.  So  profound 
was  the  calm,  that  from  a  distance  through  the  dewy 
air,  peopled  with  myriads  of  humming  insects,  pierced 
the  silvery  tones  of  the  evening  trumpet  of  the  cavalry 
guard,  and  was  heard  the  tinkling  bells  of  a  cavalcade 
of  mules  descending  the  mountain  pass,  mingled  with 
the  solemn,  melancholy  and  wild  chorus  of  the  African 
at  the  Baracoon.f 

It  is  difficult  to  analyse  the  feelings  inspired  by  such 
a  scene.  The  prevailing  sentiment  is  sadness,  mingled 
with  admiration  of  the  works  of  Him  *•  who  spreadeth 
out  the  heavens,  and  treadeth  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea," 
and  wonder  and  delight  at  the  various  and  sublime  trans- 
formations of  lights  and  shadows.  These  feelings  are  ex- 
perienced in  every  clime,  whether  the  orb  be  dimmed  in  his 
parting  glory  by  northern  mists,  or  "  sinking  in  one  un- 
clouded blaze  of  living  light"  into  the  golden  mirror  of  a 
tropical  sea. 

*  Cuculla — The  light  emitted  by  this  curious  beetle  is  so  strong,  that 
by  the  united  glare  of  two  or  three  you  can  read  quite  a  small  print.  In 
the  dark  nights,  a  bush  or  tree  covered  with  them,  appears  to  be  illu- 
minated with  innumerable  small  tapers.  The  Spanish  ladies  adorn  their 
hair,  and  make  bracelets  and  zones  of  them,  which  have  a  beautiful  and 
striking  effect. 

t  Baracoon — The  place  where  the  slaves  are  deposited  soon  after  their 
arrival.  At  sunset  they  join  in  a  wild  monotonous  song,  keeping  time 
by  clapping  the  hands  together.  In  the  stillness  of  the  evening,  this 
melancholy  chant  can  be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 


24  A  BURIAL  BY  THE  SEA-SIDE. 

And  now  every  sound  had  ceased ;  a  deathlike  silence 
prevailed,  interrupted  at  intervals  by  the  distant  baying 
of  the  Spanish  watch-dog,*  and  the  first  breath  of  the 
terra!,]  which  sighed  through  the  quivering  reeds  and 
trembling  leaves  of  the  palmetto.  Suddenly  the  silence 
was  broken  by  the  tones  of  a  clear  voice,  saying — 

"  Man  that  is  born  of  woman  has  but  a  short  time  to 
live,   and   is  full  of  misery.     He  cometh  up  and  is  cut 

down  like  a  flower.    He  fleeth,  as  it  were,  a  shadow 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death" 

When  a  gust  from  the  mountain  swept  over  the  plain. 
The  gigantic  palm  bowed  his  head  to  the  mournful  night- 
breeze,  which  passed  away  upon  its"  invisible  path  to  the 
sea.  And  again  all  was  still  and  silent,  and  the  same 
clear  voice  continued — "  Ashes  to  ashes — dust  to  dust — 
looking  for  the  general  resurrection  in  the  last  day,  when 
the  earth  and  sea  shall  give  up  their  dead." — 

It  was  the  Episcopal  burial  service.  Every  word 
tolled  upon  the  air  with  startling  precision.  It  was  like 
the  voice  of  a  monitory  spirit.     The  profound  silence — 

*  The  Spanish  watch-dog — Now  the  noisiest  animal  in  creation  ;  but 
originally  remarkable  for  a  rare  canine  virtue,  silence.  This  peculiarity 
of  the  aboriginal  dogs  of  Cuba,  is  mentioned  more  than  once  by  Colum- 
bus, in  his  Journal,  and  by  the  Pilot  Oviedo — "  hay  muchos  perros  en 
estos  payses  que  nunca  ladran" — there  are  many  dogs  in  this  country 
that  never  bark.  In  a  subsequent  passage  of  the  same  rare  and  costly 
work,  published  at  Havanna  in  1835,  it  is  said,  "  that  a  European  dog 
was  left  upon  the  island.  Upon  the  return  of  Bartholomew  Columbus 
from  the  Southern  Continent,  they  were  not  a  little  astonished  to  find 
that  the  distinguished  stranger  had  taught  the  native  Cuban  dogs  to 
bark  most  furiously."  We  leave  the  naturalists  to  draw  the  proper  in- 
ferences  from  this  curious  fact.  We  can  only  say,  that  it  is  a  great  pity 
the  aboriginal  stock  had  not  been  preserved  untainted  by  the  vices  of  the 
European. 

t  The  terral, — or  land-breeze — which  sets  in  after  sunset. 


A  BURIAL  BY  THE  SEA-SIDE.  25 

the  hour — the  scene — all  conspired  to  make  it  solemn 
and  impressive. 

Upon  the  sea  shore,  within  fifty  yards  of  the  surf  that 
rippled  upon  the  beach  in  low  murmurs,  like  a  dirge  for 
the  departed,  a  group  of  foreigners  were  collected  round 
a  rude  grave  scooped  into  the  sand.  The  American  flag, 
which  had  served  as  a  pall,  lay  at  the  feet  of  the  consul. 
At  a  given  signal,  the  grave  was  carefully  filled.  For 
one  moment  the  little  crowd  remained  silent  and  un- 
covered, and  then  slowly  left  the  remains  of  their  late 
companion  to  repose  in  his  humble  grave,  within  sight 
and  sound  of  that  element  he  loved  in  life. 

Under  any  circumstances,  the  solemn  simplicity  of 
that  service  is  impressive.  But  there,  upon  that  foreign 
Catholic  shore,*  where  the  "  churlish  priest"  denied  to 
the  Protestant  Christian  the  poor  privilege  of  being 
buried  in  consecrated  ground — where  bigotry,  prejudice 
and  ignorance  are  as  intolerable  as  the  heat  of  the  mid- 
day sun,  without  its  light — the  incident  was  strange  and 
impressive  beyond  description. 

Of  all  that  attended  the  humble  obsequies  of  the  poor 
American  sailor,  not  one  will  ever  forget  that  twilight 
funeral  by  the  sea-side. 

*  Catholic  shore — There  is  no  intention  hereto  cast  an  aspersion  upon 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  Bigotry  and  prejudice  are  not  the  exclusive 
properties  of  a  Catholic  shore.  But  local,  and  to  censure  the  "  churlish 
priest"  who,  in  this  instance,  was  as  intolerant  as  ignorant.  The  Spanish 
priest  of  Cuba  is  a  different  being  from  the  enlightened  Roman  Catholic 
of  the  Free  States. 

3 


THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO. 

My  parents  were  respectable  hard-working  people — 
myself  their  only  son.  In  an  evil  hour  my  poor  father 
became  convinced  that  his  son  Hiram  Hock  was  born 
to  be  a  great  man.  After  mature  deliberation  and  many 
misgivings,  and  doubtful  shakes  of  the  head  by  my  kind 
and  affectionate  mother,  it  was  finally  decided  that  I 
should  study  the  law.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  there- 
fore, I  commenced  curving  my  spine  upon  a  hard  chair, 
with  my  heels  upon  the  mantel-piece  in  winter,  and  the 
window-sill  in  summer,  perusing  at  intervals  the  lyrical 
effusions  of  the  gay  and  witty  Coke,  the  facetious  Fearne, 
the  romantic  Blackstone,  and  the  irresistible  and  inex- 
haustible Chitty,  that  Beranger  of  the  law. 

At  the  expiration  of  four  years,  with  a  stomach  shri- 
velled up  like  parchment,  weak  eyes,  and  a  confused 
notion  of  ten  thousand  conflicting  principles  associated 
with  books  bound  in  yellow  calf-skin,  I  was  presented 
by  my  preceptor  with  a  diploma  for  starvation. 

That  worthy  individual  in  spectacles  I  shall  never  for- 
get:  he  was  what  is  called  "a  thorough-bred  lawyer." 
As  a  practitioner  and  special  pleader,  he  was  eminently 
renowned,  and  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  had  acquired 
not  only  a  subsistence,  but  some  thought  even  a  suffi- 
ciency in  case  of  his  demise,  to  prevent  his  widow  from 
keeping  a  boarding-house. 


THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO.  27 

All  his  actions  were  squared  by  rules  of  law,  and  the 
principles  of  his  science.  In  his  intercourse  with  man- 
kind, he  conceived  the  first  duty  to  pay  a  fee ;  any  de- 
reliction from  this  important  ceremony  was  a  crime 
equivalent  to  high  treason. 

Several  rules  had  been  served  upon  him  at  different 
times,  and  notices  to  quit  this  transitory  life,  in  the  shape 
of  blindness,  deafness  and  temporary  paralysis  ;  but  he 
still  remained  firm  at  his  vocation,  and  not  in  the  slight- 
est degree  intimidated  by  the  severity  of  the  attacks. 
By  means  of  an  antiquated  process  familiar  to  himself, 
but  utterly  unknown  to  the  medical  faculty, termed  "the 
suffering  a  common  recovery," — he  was  again  absorbed 
in  the  studies  of  his  captivating  science,  never  inter- 
mitted except  to  receive  the  "  honorarium,"  all  other  lite- 
rature in  his  estimation  being  not  worth  the  snap  of  aft.  fa. 

For  nearly  half  a  century  this  worthy  gentleman  had 
been  seated  upon  an  arm-chair  adorned  with  a  leathern 
cushion,  of  which  there  was  a  faint  tradition,  that  it  once 
had  been  stuffed  with  hair,  but  now  as  flat  as  a  pancake, 
and  as  totally  destitute  of  that  excrescence  as  the  shining 
bald  pate  of  the  distinguished  sedentary.  Empires  had 
been  overthrown  by  terrible  revolutions ;  moral  and  po- 
litical changes  had  occurred  unnoticed  by  this  excellent 
man.  An  occasional  innovation  upon  the  revered  com- 
mon law,  would  sensibly  affect,  his  usual  equanimity,  and 
it  is  reported  that  it  was  several  days  before  he  could 
recover  from  the  shock  occasioned  by  the  passage  of  a 
law,  permitting  a  writ  of  partition  to  be  sued  out  by  the 
remainder  man  in  fee,  before  the  death  of  the  tenant  for 
life.* 

*  See  Laws  of  Pennsylvania. 


28  THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO. 

He  was  just  in  all  his  dealings  and  strictly  pious  in  all 
his  thoughts  and  actions.  Conscious  of  a  vested  remain- 
der in  the  future,  dependent  upon  a  particular  prior  estate 
created  at  the  same  time,  and  by  the  same  instrument, 
(Co.  Lit.  49,  a,)  coupled  with  the  comfortable  assurance 
of  an  equity  of  redemption  as  first  decided  in  the  case  of 
Pulk  vs.  Clinton,  12  Fez.  59,  his  mind  was  perfectly 
prepared  and  tranquil  upon  all  spiritual  matters.  And 
yet  he  had  his  bar  jokes,  and  reminiscences  of  ancient 
jests  served  upon  a  brother  long  since  gone  to  final  judg- 
ment ;  and  on  motion  days,  would  wrinkle  up  his  sedate 
countenance  into  something  that  faintly  resembled  a 
smile,  when  reminded  of  these  traditionary  jeux  d?  esprit 
by  a  facetious  judge,  who  had  just  received  his  quarter's 
salary. 

Under  the  auspices  of  this  worthy  personage,  I  nailed 
a  piece  of  tin  upon  the  front  window-shutter  of  a  small 
room,  in  the  noisiest  and  most  disagreeable  part  of  the 
town,  and  with  heroic  patience,  for  many  a  long  month 
bode  my  time.  I  will  pass  over  that  weary  interval. 
How  often  did  I  determine  to  abandon  the  profession  and 
plunge  into  the  active  business  of  life,  but  habits  acquired 
during  my  preparation  for  practice,  with  an  entire  sepa- 
ration from  men  of  business,  had  utterly  unfitted  me  now 
for  any  other  pursuit:  I  was  chained  to  the  oar — the  die 
was  cast.  O  that  I  had  only  had  the  courage  to  throw 
aside  those  hateful  books,  and  seize  hold  of  the  honest 
calling  of  my  poor  father — who  was  an  eminent  little 
calf-butcher! 

An  opportunity  at  last  occurred  ;  a  client  with  lingering 
steps  and  slow,  absolutely  engaged  my  services  to  defend 
his  cause  in  the  Criminal  Court.     Why  this  infatuated 


THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TVRO.  29 

individual  appealed  to  me  in  preference  to  five  hundred 
others,  it  was  impossible  to  imagine.  Afterwards  it 
came  to  my  knowledge,  that  he  had  applied  to  several 
for  professional  aid,  but  vainly,  not  having  it  in  his  power 
to  perform  that  very  important  ceremony  so  agreeable 
to  my  venerable  preceptor,  and  without  which,  it  was 
impossible  to  comprehend  the  plainest  proposition,  but 
the  moment  it  was  pocketed,  every  thing  was  as  clear 
to  his  perception  as  the  noon-day  sun — by  the  bye  the 
only  figure  he  ever  indulged  in,  with  the  exception  of 
one  other,  with  which  he  concluded  an  argument  to  his 
own  mind  perfectly  irresistible,  that  "  there  was  not  a 
loop  to  hang  a  doubt  upon." 

Without  any  fee  or  reward,  vested  or  contingent,  be- 
hold me  preparing  for  the  trial  of  this  mighty  cause.  As 
I  passed  through  the  streets  on  my  way  to  the  court 
house,  I  was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  whole 
w7orld  was  gazing  upon  me.  Caesar's  procession  to  the 
Capitol  was  nothing  to  the  heavy  forebodings  that  shook 
my  frame.  Upon  taking  my  seat  within  the  bar,  in  vain 
did  I  assume  an  air  of  affected  indifference ;  my  heart 
beat  almost  to  bursting  ;  my  mind  became  confused ;  all 
the  blood  in  my  body  had  rushed  to  the  inmost  recesses 
of  my  heart,  leaving  my  face  pale  and  clammy  as  a  cold 
muffin.  I  felt  very  ill,  and  once  or  twice  was  upon  the 
point  of  retiring  under  a  sudden  indisposition.  I  was 
awakened  from  this  general  paralysis  by  an  appeal  from 
one  of  the  judges,  of  "  Go  on,  sir,  with  your  case  !" 

My  professional  opponent,  in  manner,  spirit  and  action, 
formed  a  strange  contrast  to  myself.  He  was  a  petti- 
fogger in  the  most  unqualified  sense  of  the  word  :  un- 
educated, scarcely  able  to  articulate  three   words   of 


30  THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO. 

English  correctly,  and  with  about  as  much  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  the  science  as  a  Hottentot  or  Sibe- 
rian Cossack,  yet  bold,  forward,  conceited,  and  impudent, 
past  all  belief. 

The  swaggering  air  with  which  this  gentleman  of  the 
bar — once  a  sailor,  now  twisted  into  a  land-shark, — con- 
fronted a  timid  witness,  elicited  great  applause  from  the 
spectators,  and  one  or  two  roaring  speeches  with  violent 
gesticulations  and  divers  appeals  to  the  fearless  integrity 
of  his  own  conduct,  so  overcame  the  sympathies  of  the 
tipstaves  and  the  court-loungers,  that  every  oyster-house 
resounded  with  his  praise.  Independent  of  these  pro- 
fessional excellencies,  he  was  a  pot-house  politician  of 
great  renown ;  between  him  and  the  judge  therefore 
there  existed  a  kindred  sympathy  of  feeling,  the  latter 
having  arrived  at  that  eminent  station  by  reason  of  the 
same  meritorious  services. 

Diffident  of  my  own  abilities,  fearful  of  the  sound  of 
my  own  voice,  and  embarrassed  by  the  manners  of  the 
judge,  who  was  rollicking  back  in  an  arm-chair,  with 
his  hand  before  his  mouth,  sliding  something  into  the  ear 
of  his  associate,  which  appeared  to  me  a  jest  upon  my 
person,  or  some  stale  joke  entirely  unconnected  with  the 
administration  of  justice — the  curious  enunciating  in  a 
bold  confident  manner  of  what  my  opponent,  the  sea- 
attorney,  asserted  to  be  law,  and  which  he  felt  confident 
the  court  would  bear  him  out  with  in  their  charge,  so 
overwhelmed  and  distressed  me,  that  I  scarcely  knew 
whether  I  stood  upon  my  head  or  my  heels.  I  however 
summoned  up  sufficient  courage  to  rise  and  utter  the 
following  words — "  Gentlemen  of  the  Jury " 

These  words  had  no   sooner  passed  my  parched  lips, 


THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO.  31 

than  the  concentrated  rays  of  twenty-three  eyes  were 
brought  to  bear  upon  my  person — for  one  of  the  panel 
had  lost  one  of  these  organs,  but  the  other  was  a  piercer 
— so  that  I  immediately  felt  the  full  force  of  my  perilous 
position,  a  target  for  the  whole  sworn  twelve  to  fire  at. 
It  was  awful ;  my  limbs  trembled  beneath  me,  my  hand 
shook  till  the  paper  fairly  rattled  as  I  held  it  forth.     As 
I  was  about  to  reiterate  the  words  just  spoken,  the  silence 
which  pervaded  the   court-room  was   interrupted  by  a 
cry  of  "  Stand  back,  clear  the  way  for  the  Grand  Jury," 
and  in  stalked  the  whole  array   and  took  their  seats. 
The  ceremony  of  receiving   bills  from  this  formidable 
body  was  finished.     Burglaries,   larcenies,  both  grand 
and  petty,  with  one   murder  as   a  trump,  were  shuffled 
over  by  the  judge,   and   then   handed  to  the  Attorney- 
General,  accompanied  with  a  grave  remark  that  they 
were   all  right — and  after  much  shoving  and  cries  of 
"  Clear  the  way,  make  room  for  the  Grand  Jury,"  which 
was  reiterated  by  the  constabulary  in  every  variety  of 
form   and  intonation  of  voice,  order  was  restored  and 
the  twenty-three  eyes  again  commenced  mesmerising 
me.     "  Gentlemen,"  said  I— a  very  long  pause,—"  Gen- 
tlemen—if there  is  one  of  you  that  will " — "  a-a-t 

chee,  ee!"  came  from  the  one-eyed  juryman,  like  the 
explosion  of  a  keg  of  powder ;  such  a  sneeze  was  never 
heard  before,  nor  ever  will  be  heard  again ;  it  startled 
the  whole  assemblage.  Some  dozen  loafers  dozing  upon 
the  back  seats  gazed  for  a  moment  about  them  with  a 
vacant  and  bewildered  stare,  then  sunk  again  into  slum- 
ber, to  dream  of  pots  of  beer,  lawyers,  smoked  sausages, 
and  Grand  Juries. 

The  twenty-two  eyes  of  the  eleven  were  withdrawn 


32  THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH   OF  A  TYRO. 

from  me  and  bent  with  curious  gaze  upon  their  twelfth 
one-eyed  associate,  from  whose  nostrils  had  issued  that 
tremendous  and  supernatural  blast ;  that  gentleman's 
head,  buried  for  some  time  beneath  the  rail,  was  not 
visible ;  my  own  impression  was  that  it  had  dropped  off  or 
been  hurled  off,  for  he  was  very  busy  seeking  for  some- 
thing upon  the  floor.  Our  apprehensions  upon  that  point 
were  quickly  relieved,  for  up  it  rose  again,  slowly  as  if 
drawn  by  some  powerful  machine,  the  mouth  wide  open 
from  ear  to  ear,  his  right  eye  shut  as  tightly  as  the  one 
which  some  amiable  playmate  had  gouged  out  in  youth. 
Onward  it  went  until  bent  as  far  back  as  the  natural 
structure  of  those  parts  of  the  body  would  permit,  every 
energy  of  that  individual  juryman  apparently  concen- 
trated into  the  effort  to  give  forth  a  sneeze  which  should 
astonish  all  mankind.  Judging  from  the  involuntary 
specimen  of  his  powers  already  given,  there  could  not  be 
"  a  loop  to  hang  a  doubt  upon,"  as  my  preceptor  would 
say,  but  that  this  forthcoming  effort  would  realize  the 
most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  audience.  Bench, 
bar,  tipstaves  and  spectators,  as  one  man,  with  suppressed 
breath  and  staring  eyeballs,  awaited  the  awful  explosion. 
There  it  comes — there  was  a  slight  preliminary  gasp 
— a  preparatory  heave — the  eye  opened,  the  mouth  shut, 
and  the  nostril  ejaculated  a  slight  "  hitchee,"  not  much 
louder  than  the  chirp  of  a  tom-tit.  This  was  worse  than 
the  other ;  disappointment  pervaded  the  whole  assem- 
blage, with  no  small  mixture  of  popular  indignation. 
There  was  something,  however,  so  irresistibly  comical 
in  the  whole  exhibition  that  with  one  accord  the  gentle 
world  of  General  Sessions  roared  with  laughter — all 
except  poor  I,  who  was  now  doubly  confounded  ;  all  my 


THE  FIRST  AND  LAST  SPEECH  OF  A  TYRO.  33 

pathos,  the  preparation  of  weeks,  was  sneezed  away  by 
that  infernal  one-eyed  juryman ;  and  though  silence  was 
commanded  in  every  variety  of  cadence  and  emphasis, 
from  the  snap-snap  of  the  newly  fledged  constabulary  to 
the  deep  growl  of  the  old  crier,  who  was  famous  for  the 
imperious  demands  upon  the  public  for  that  which  he 
never  could  maintain  in  his  own  domicile,  I  was  utterly 
gone,  dumfounded,  and  with  one  or  two  spasmodic 
efforts  at  articulation,  gave  up,  and  sank  into  my  chair 
covered  with  confusion.  What  transpired  afterwards, 
[  have  no  recollection  of.  Upon  looking  over  the  columns 
of  a  newspaper  some  days  after,  I  saw  that  my  client 
had  been  convicted,  notwithstanding  a  most  powerful 
speech  made  by  Hiram  Hock,  Esq.  This  was  my  first 
effort,  with  every  probability  of  its  being  my  last. 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER. 

THE  CELEBRATED  MAESTRO  OF  THE  JEWSHARP. 

From  the  remotest  periods,  almost  every  age  can 
boast  of  some  wonderful  genius,  whose  intellectual  or 
physical  endowments,  above  all  others,  are  pre-eminently 
distinguished.  Bright  and  particular  stars  have  struggled 
through  the  obscurity  of  the  dark  ages,  and  ever  after 
shone  with  a  steady,  enduring  and  imperishable  light. 
Others  have  burst  forth  like  meteors  for  a  time  to  dazzle 
and  astonish  mankind.  Of  the  former,  a  Milton  and  a 
Shakspeare  still  shine  with  undiminished  brilliancy  in 
the  literary  firmament,  whilst  the  coruscating  genius  of 
a  Daniel  O'Connell,  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  Ole  Bull,  and 
Von  Yearling  Heiffer,  captivate  the  senses  and  para- 
lyze the  gaze  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

There  would  be  much  dispute  as  to  the  nationality  of 
our  hero,  was  it  decided  upon  the  principle  of  the 
ancient  apothegm, — non  ubi  nascor,  sed  ubi  pascor — 
making  that  place  his  mother,  not  which  bred,  but  which 
fed  him.  as  every  empire,  kingdom,  and  state  is  tribu- 
tary to  his  genius. 

Fortunately  we  are  fully  acquainted  with  the  early 
history  of  Von  Yearling  Heiffer,  even  from  the  hour  of 
his  birth,  and  all  the  details  of  his  parentage  and  place 
of  nativity. 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER.  35 

Germany  has  the  honour  of  being  the  birthplace  of 
Von  Yearling  Heiffer.  He  was  born  in  the  romantic 
little  village  of  Humbug,  and  Duchy  of  Buttermilk- 
hausen. 

With  infinite  pleasure  we  are  able  to  record  not  only 
the  day,  and  year,  and  month,  but  the  precise  hour  to  a 
minute,  when  that  happy  event  transpired.  It  was  on 
the  memorable  first  day  of  April,  a.  d.  1823,  at  five  and 
a  half  minutes  past  four  of  the  morning. 

His  mother,  Soosook  Heiffer,  was  not\vhat  is  termed 
a  strong-minded  woman,  but  remarkable  for  great  pro- 
priety of  demeanour,  uncommon  industry,  and  surprising 
strength  of  constitution:  the  latter  she  inherited  from 
the  English  Bulls,  to  which  family  she  was  nearlv  re- 
laled.  She  was  what  might  be  termed  a  pains-taking 
body,  and  addicted  to  very  early  rising.  To  this  virtue 
then,  may  be  ascribed  the  choice  of  that  unfashionable 
hour  to  perform  the  important  duty  of  giving  birth  to 
Von  Yearling,  that  the  rest  of  the  day  might  be  dedi- 
cated to  the  compounding  of  sausages  and  the  fabrica- 
tion of  cheeses,  in  which  separate  and  distinct  sciences 
she  eminently  excelled. 

From  a  portrait  of  that  excellent  woman  which 
adorns  the  Hall  of  Churnagain,  the  palace  of  the  Arch- 
duke Parmesan,  we  form  a  very  favourable  opinion  of 
her  personal  accomplishments. 

She  was  neither  tall  nor  short,  but  perhaps  might  be 
more  aptly  styled  a  spherical  beauty ;  that  is  to  say,  she 
was  about  as  broad  as  she  was  long.  This  pleasing 
rotundity  was  usually  encompassed  by  a  short  German 
woollen  petticoat,  the  waist  commencing  immediately 
under  the  arms.     Her  head  was  adorned  with  one  of 


36  VON  YEARLING  HE1FFER. 

those  exquisite  little  German  skull-caps,  plastered  down 
with  such  skill  that  no  phrenological  developement  was 
hid  from  view ;  or,  more  poetically  described,  as  if 
some  one  had  "  plucked  from  her  forehead  an  innocent 
love,  and  clapped  a  blister  there."  Her  back  had  a 
graceful  Grecian  curve,  though  it  has  been  intimated, 
(with  what  truth  we  will  not  pretend  to  affirm,)  that  the 
last  mentioned  beauty  was  an  organic  affection,  occa- 
sioned by  the  weight  of  a  musical  instrument  which  her 
affectionate  spouse  was  wont  to  place  upon  her  shoul- 
ders, when  perambulating  the  neighbouring  villages. 

This  lovely  woman  was  of  English  descent,  as  we 
before  observed,  originally  from  Cowes,  where  Ole  Bull 
of  that  parish,  the  grand  uncle  of  the  immortal  Ole  Bull, 
was  married  to  her  mother,  and  took  her  to  Buttermilk- 
hausen.  Of  course  the  reader  will  perceive  that  there 
is  an  affinity  between  Ole  Bull  of  forty-fiddlestick 
power,  and  the  subject  of  our  short  biographical  sketch. 

So  much  for  the  maternal, — we  will  now  glance  at 
the  paternal  side  of  this  domestic  picture,  for  every  thing 
that  relates,  however  remotely,  to  our  hero,  has  become 
a  matter  of  the  deepest  inlerest  to  the  world. 

They  say,  it  is  a  wise  child  that  knows  his  own 
father.  Gifted  as  young  Heiffer  is  with  supernatural 
abilities,  yet,  an  affecting  incident  has  occurred  to 
the  gentleman  who  claimed  the  honour  of  being  the 
author  of  our  hero's  existence,  which  utterly  precluded 
him  from  any  personal  knowledge  of  his  distinguished 
parent. 

Horntosser,  the  father  of  Yearling  Heiffer,  whom  it 
becomes  our  duty  to  notice,  was  an  original  but  eccen- 
tric genius ;  the  perfect  antipode  in  disposition  and  tastes 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER.  37 

to  his  lovely  spouse.  He  was  one  of  those  powerful 
geniuses  that  would  rather  do  any  thing  than  work.  So 
perfectly,  however,  did  he  appreciate  the  skill  of  his 
lady,  that  much  of  his  time  was  dedicated  to  her  sausages 
and  cheeses ;  but  suddenly,  under  an  impulse  which  it  is 
impossible  and  perhaps  unnecessary  to  define,  he  quitted 
his  home  and  wandered  about  in  strange  places,  with  no 
other  companion  than  a  monkey,  of  very  small  propor- 
tions, who  figured  upon  the  top  of  a  rare  instrument  of 
music,  out  of  which  Horntosser  did  grind  exquisite  and 
dulcet  tones. 

It  is  reported  that  so  great  was  the  popularity  of  this 
worthy  gentleman,  that  he  seldom  appeared  in  the 
streets  of  a  town,  but  instantly  a  crowd  gathered  round 
his  person,  and  bestowed  many  testimonials  upon  him,  in 
the  shape  of  copper  coins,  as  tokens  of  remembrance. 

In  an  evil  hour,  Horntosser  encountered  a  pedlar, 
fresh  from  the  United  States  of  America,  who  gave  him 
such  glowing  accounts  of  that  new  world,  that  he  de- 
termined at  once  to  quit  his  faderland,  and  embark  for 
that  Eldorado  for  pedlars,  organ  grinders,  and  catgut 
scrapers. 

But  alas,  how  short-sighted  is  man !  The  gay  visions 
of  Horntosser  were  never  realized.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
America,  he  was  not  a  little  astonished  and  mortified  to 
discover  that  numbers  of  his  countrymen  had  already 
anticipated  him,  and  that  every  town  and  village  was 
plentifully  supplied  with  barrel-organs  and  monkeys 
without  number.  But  such  were  the  supernatural  endow- 
ments of  his  companion,  so  exquisite  was  the  cut  of  his 
jacket,  and  with  such  infinite  grace  did  he  sport  his  little 
military  cocked  hat,  whilst  the  Maestro  extracted  sweet 


38  VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER. 

tones  from  his  instrument,  that  a  large  share  of  public 
patronage  was  enjoyed  by  both. 

If  Horntosser  had  remained  satisfied  with  the  slow 
acquisition  of  wealth,  the  result,  perhaps,  would  have 
been  very  different ;  but  either  from  the  effect  of  the 
atmosphere  in  which  he  moved,  or  from  some  uncon- 
trollable desire  for  the  sudden  acquisition  of  fortune,  his 
powerful  genius  conceived  the  idea  of  teaching  his 
monkey  to  discharge  a  little  ordnance  at  the  spectators, 
not  being  aware  that  in  the  execution  of  this  astonishing 
and  pleasing  feat  he  was  infringing  the  great  ordinances 
of  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love.  For  a  time,  however, 
he  reaped  a  harvest  of  coppers  and  sixpences  by  this 
daring  exploit,  when  the  monkey  happening  to  discharge 
his  pistol  in  the  ear  of  a  doctor's  horse,  that  animal, 
much  to  the  astonishment  of  the  spectators,  and  entirely 
out  of  the  course  of  his  usual  habits,  scampered  off  with 
a  speed  that  quickly  demolished  the  vehicle  to  which  he 
was  fastened,  much  to  his  own  satisfaction,  but  to  the 
unequivocal  mortification  of  the  owner  thereof.  The 
doctor  made  complaint  loud  and  strong  before  a  magis- 
trate, accompanied  by  divers  imprecations  against  all 
organ-grinders  and  pistol-firing  monkeys:  an  arrest  of 
the  ill-fated  Horntosser  was  the  consequence,  and  he 
and  organ  and  monkey  were  carried  before  the  tribunal 
of  a  magistrate. 

In  vain  did  poor  Horntosser  plead  in  German  his  utter 
and  entire  ignorance  of  the  laws.  In  vain  did  he  urge 
that  his  companion  was  an  irresponsible  being  and  not 
amenable  to  the  law.  The  doctor  was  inexorable,  and 
so  was  the  magistrate ;  and  all  the  profits  of  this  gifted 
individual  were  in  a  moment,  by  the  scratch  of  a  pen, 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER.  39 

swept  into  the  pockets  of  that  functionary  and  his  worthy 
assistants,  by  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  and  costs  ;  the  penalty 
being  made  additionally  heavy  on  account  of  an  indignity 
offered  to  the  person  of  the  magistrate  by  the  monkey, 
who  during  the  solemnity  of  the  trial  and  examination, 
was  distracting  the  atlention  of  the  audience  by  surprising 
and  perhaps  indecorous  feats  of  agility,  unbecoming  his 
position,  which  though  they  elicited  unqualified  applause 
from  the  spectators,  could  not  but  be  interpreted  as  an 
intended  insult.  Superadded  to  which,  there  was  a 
general  levity  of  conduct,  unpardonable  and  inexcusable 
in  one  so  travelled  and  accomplished. 

There  was  another  reason  why  the  penalty  was  so 
severe,  which  Horntosser  will  ever  remain  ignorant  of. 
The  act  abolishing  imprisonment  for  debt  had  just  be- 
come a  law.  There  had,  therefore,  been  a  terrible  slack 
of  judicial  and  constabulary  business.  The  little  affair 
of  Horntosser  was  a  sort  of  godsend  which  they  be- 
lieved it  their  duty  to  make  the  most  of.  The  father  of 
our  hero  became  so  completely  disgusted  with  republican 
justice,  for  not  permitting  monkeys  to  crack  off  little 
pistols,  that  he  packed  up  and  re-embarked  for  his  fader- 
land. 

But  much  had  transpired  since  this  worthy  man  had 
quit  his  home.  The  genius  of  his  son  had  burst  forth  to 
astonish  the  world,  and  after  reaping  a  world  of  glory 
there,  had  departed  for  that  very  land  from  which  his 
parent  had  fled  with  disgust  and  mortification.  This  ex- 
plains, therefore,  why  our  hero  never  had  the  opportunity 
of  knowing  personally  his  own  father. 

We  must  apologize  for  this  digression,  if  such  it  can 
be  called,  for  every  thing  that  relates  to  our  hero  is  of 


40  VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER. 

such  absorbing  interest,  that  this  little  episodical  history 
in  the  life  of  the  reputed  author  of  his  being,  cannot  but 
be  of  the  greatest  interest  to  the  public. 

Von  Yearling  exhibited  at  a  very  early  age  some  of 
those  surprising  qualities  which  have  distinguished  him 
as  one  of  the  greatest  geniuses  of  the  age.  We  cannot 
but  look  upon  fiddling  and  dancing  as  a  gift  of  inspira- 
tion, which  in  spite  of  any  obstacle  will  burst  forth  at 
the  fitting  time.  No  matter  how  overwhelming  the  dif- 
ficulties, it  struggles  forth  with  a  lustre  proportionate  to 
the  obstacles  that  oppose  its  progress. 

Which  part  of  the  human  frame  is  the  seat  of  intelli- 
gence has  been  a  disputed  point  with  philosophers  time 
out  of  mind  ;  and  they  who  have  believed  in  the  theory 
of  brains  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  are  not  a  little  con- 
founded by  the  recent  extraordinary  men  and  women 
who  have  attracted  and  commanded  undivided  attention 
and  admiration  without  the  use  of  their  heads  at  all. 
Elssler's  heels,  the  supernatural  elbow  of  Ole  Bull,  that 
might  be  said  to  be  a  complication  of  the  concentrated 
energies  of  forty  fiddlers'  elbows  in  a  country  dance, 
confound  all  such  theories,  and  distract  us  with  the  start- 
ling supposition  whether,  after  all,  the  brains  be  not  in 
the  fiddle  of  the  one  and  the  heels  of  the  other. 

The  Chinese  have  been  laughed  at  for  believing  that 
the  belly  was  the  seat  of  the  soul ;  but  it  behoves  us 
hereafter  to  be  more  careful  how  we  condemn  a  theory 
before  it  has  been  tried  and  tested  and  matured  by  ex- 
periment. 

The  godlike  abilities  of  Ole  Bull,  though  pressed  down 
by  every  accumulative  difficulty — not  forgetting  poverty, 
which  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  be  a  crusher  of  no  or- 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER.  41 

dinary  power— burst  forth  like  a  suppressed  flame.  So 
with  Yearling  Heiffer  ;  though  thwarted  by  the  indiscreet 
though  well-meant  efforts  of  his  friends,  he  conquered 
all  opposition. 

In  vain  did  they  attempt  to  teach  him  the  vulgar  at- 
tainments of  reading  and  writing.  In  vain  was  it  an 
effort  made  to  instruct  our  hero  in  some  honest  trade  or 
calling,  and  thus  cramp  his  omnipotent  genius.  We  are 
happy  to  say  that  these  efforts  were  all  unsuccessful. 
His  mighty  genius  was  uncontrolled  and  uncontrollable. 
Sleeping,  eating  sausages  and  sourcrout,  was  his  constant 
occupation,  until  an  accident  suddenly  developed  all  his 
powers,  and  gave  him  the  command  of  that  instrument 
by  which  he  was  to  raise  himself,  without  that  useless  ar- 
ticle called  brains,  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  human  glory. 

The  incident  is  curious,  affecting  and  instructive.  A 
great  fair  was  held  in  the  vicinity  of  Humbug  in  the 
Duchy  of  Buttermilkhausen.  Our  hero  was  exceedingly 
anxious  to  go  to  this  fair,  and  was  promised  the  gratifi- 
cation by  his  mother,  upon  condition  he  assisted  her  in 
the  polishing  off  some  specimens  of  the  skill  in  the 
sausage  and  cheese  line.  He  fulfilled  her  wishes,  and 
received  from  that  worthy  and  exemplary  woman  a 
penny,  accompanied  by  a  maternal  admonition  that  he 
would  be  careful  not  to  make  a  beast  of  himself  by  any 
foolish  and  improvident  expenditure  of  that  liberal  dona- 
tion. 

With  this  penny,  Von  Yearling  Heiffer  bought  a  Jews- 
harp,  an  instrument  of  music  he  long  had  coveted,  and 
at  once  commenced  his  labours.  He  appeared  to  be 
born  for  it ;  night  and  day  did  this  talented  youth  prac- 
tise every  variety  of  tune,  never  for  one  moment  inter- 

4 


42  VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER. 

mining  his  labours,  a  little  sausage  and  a  little  sourcrout 
being  taken  at  times  to  prevent  exhaustion.  In  a  short 
time  he  felt  himself  master  of  it,  and  exhibited  his  talents 
to  the  people  of  his  native  village.  Men,  women  and 
children  were  enraptured  ;  with  one  accord  he  was 
unanimously  pronounced  a  real  Humbugger,  and  an 
honour  to  the  place  of  his  nativity. 

His  fame  flew  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind.  The 
Duchess  of  Parmesan  sent  him  a  cheese,  with  a  particu- 
lar request  that  he  would  exhibit  his  skill  at  Churnagain, 
the  Palace  of  the  Principality  of  Buttermilkhausen.  His 
performance  there  had  the  most  surprising  effects.  Her 
Grace  was  thrown  into  such  ecstasies  that  her  life  was 
despaired  of  for  several  days,  but  upon  recovery, 
presented  him  with  the  order  of  the  golden  fleece,  as  the 
most  appropriate  gift  for  such  abilities. 

The  whole  court  of  Buttermilkhausen  was  in  tears, 
several  maids  of  honour  had  to  be  carried  out,  and  Baron 
Goldschmidtwho  happened  to  be  present,  with  the  great- 
est liberality  presented  him  with  five  shares  in  the  Missis- 
sippi bonds,  accompanied  with  a  letter  to  Governor 
McNutt,  in  case  it  should  be  the  determination  of  Von 
Yearling  to  go  to  America  and  tune  up  "  those  amiable 
transatlantic  repudiators." 

Gold  now  poured  into  the  pockets  of  Von  Yearling, 
faster  than  coppers  were  showered  upon  the  heads  of  his 
father  and  monkey.  All  the  world  bowed  at  the  shrine 
of  his  magnificent  genius.  Nothing  was  talked  of  but 
Von  Yearling  Heiffer  and  his  Jews-harp.  Princes  and 
Princesses,  Dukes  and  Duchesses  were  expiring  with 
delight.  At  Vienna,  his  first  appearance  was  awful. 
We  copy  from  the  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  a  vivid  descrip- 


VON  YEARLING  HEIFFER.  43 

tion  of  that  appearance : — The  effect  upon  the  audience 
was  wonderful.  The  house  was  decidedly  the  largest 
he  had  had,  and  the  performance  unquestionably  more 
thrilling  and  subduing  than  any  they  had  previously 
heard.  The  last  piece,  the  '  Carving  de  Venison,9  was 
received  with  such  a  demonstration  of  popular  delight 
as  has  never  before  been  witnessed  in  any  theatre.  After 
the  hurricane  had  subsided,  the  Maestro  came  forward, 
bending  low  and  holding  his  Jews-harp  at  the  end  of  his 
nose,  by  the  tongue  of  that  magic  instrument.  He  said 
in  a  voice  broken  with  emotion : — 

"'  I  vas  born  in  Humbug,  but  mine  harp  is  at  yourn 
shervice.' 

"  He  then  took  his  harp  off*  of  his  nose,  blew  that  organ 
with  a  white  cambric  pocket-handkerchief  in  the  most 
graceful  and  affecting  manner,  played  the  Humbug  waltz 
in  such  an  exquisite  style,  that  every  body  was  wound  up 
to  such  a  state  of  ecstasy  that  relief  could  only  be  ob- 
tained by  parting  with  all  their  spare  cash,  and  those 
that  had  none  to  spare  borrowed  from  others,  or  the 
consequences  might  have  been  fatal.  Some  have  never 
been  unwound  since,  and  are  still  turning  round  singing 
his  praises  in  the  most  exaggerated  strains." 

Having  exhausted  Europe,  we  are  happy  to  hear  that 
it  is  the  intention  of  this  gifted  and  wonderful  genius  to 
pay  us  a  visit,  and  from  the  success  of  his  distinguished 
relation  in  the  fiddling  department,  we  have  no  doubt 
but  Von  Yearling  Heiffer,  of  Humbug  and  Buttermilk- 
hausen,  will  be  received  with  an  enthusiasm  correspond- 
ing to  his  great  talents  ! 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE   HAVANNA, 

m  1844. 

"  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before." 

"Go  forth,  brave  champion  of  your  native  land; 
And  may  the  battle  prosper  in  your  hand. 
It  may — it  must !     You  cannot  be  withstood ; 
Your  soul  is  fearless  as  your  cause  is  good." 

Churchill. 

Far  above  the  parapets  of  the  Moro  Castle,  like  a 
pyramid  of  clouds,  towered  the  white  swelling  sails  of  a 
man-of-war  of  the  largest  class.  From  her  peak  streamed 
forth,  in  ample  folds,  a  well-known  flag,  upon  whose 
azure  field  sparkled  the  stars  of  a  constellation,  increas- 
ing every  day  in  lustre.  The  dark  hull  of  this  gigantic 
warrior  passed  out  of  the  bay,  and  majestically  bowed 
to  the  swell  which  now  heaved  in  from  the  broad  ocean 
against  her  bright  cleaving  bow,  which  scattered  aside 
the  opposing  fluid  into  jets  of  milk-white  foam  and  spray. 

Every  thing  about  this  magnificent  craft  was  trimmed 
with  nautical  precision.  Her  bright  sides  bristled  with 
a  triple  array  of  heavy  artillery.  As  if  by  magic,  the 
lower,  and  lighter  sails  aloft,  were  furled  to  the  yards — 
and  like  a  gladiator  stripped  for  the  fight,  this  grim  war- 
rior was  prepared  to  battle  with  her  country's  foes  or 
ocean's  storms. 

Upon  the  quarter-deck  of  that  ship  stood  the  veteran 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA.  45 

commander,  calm  and  collected.  For  a  moment  he 
cast  a  hasty  glance  aloft,  then  gave  a  brief  but  stern 
order  to  an  officer  near  him,  and  again  was  calm  and 
absorbed  in  meditation. 

"  What's  the  report,  sir  ?"  he  said  sharply  to  the 
officer  who  had  returned.     "  Is  our  squadron  in  sight  V9 

"  Yes,  sir,  hull  down,  but  coming  on  with  a  spanking 
breeze." 

Almost  within  hail,  a  fleet  of  men-of-war  were  slowly 
approaching  under  easy  sail.  The  leading  vessel,  a 
seventy-four,  carried  the  Admiral's  flag,  whilst  the  cross 
of  Saint  George  waved  over  the  taffrail.  The  American 
lay  broadside  on  to  the  British  cruiser,  her  main-top- 
sail hove  to  the  mast.  The  same  manoeuvre  was  per- 
formed by  the  British  man-of-war,  and  those  two  ocean 
cavaliers,  at  the  distance  of  some  hundred  fathoms 
apart,  as  if  in  knightly  courtesy,  gracefully  saluted  as 
they  rose  and  fell  upon  the  waves.  A  boat  dropped  from 
the  quarter  of  each  vessel  at  the  same  moment.  For  an 
instant  the  glittering  oars  were  held  aloft ;  at  the  words 
"  let  fall,  give  way !"  they  both  sprung  from  the 
respective  ships,  with  a  speed  that  quickly  brought  them 
together. 

"  What  ship  is  that,  sir  ?"  said  the  British  officer, 
slightly  touching  his  hat. 

11  The  United  States  Ship  of  the  Line  Pennsylvania," 
replied  the  American. 

"And  her  commander?" 

"Commodore  Charles  Stewart.  What  ship  is  that, 
sir?" 

"  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Ship  Bellerophon." 

"  Her  commander?" 


46  A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA. 

"  Admiral  Sir  George  Brooke." 

"And  permit  me  to  ask,"  continued  the  American 
Lieutenant,  "  where  are  you  bound,  and  for  what 
purpose  V9 

In  a  clear,  firm  voice  the  prompt  reply  was,  "  To  the 
Havanna,  to  take  possession  of  the  island  of  Cuba." 

"  I  am  directed  by  the  orders  of  Commodore  Stewart, 
to  repeat  to  you  for  the  information  of  the  Admiral,  that 
such  a  movement  cannot  be  permitted" 

"  Nothing  else,  sir  V9 

"  Nothing." 

The  two  officers  civilly  bowed  to  each  other,  seated 
themselves  in  the  stern  sheets  of  their  respective  boats, 
and  whirled  off  to  the  ships.  Upon  the  quarter-deck  of 
the  Pennsylvania,  the  old  Commodore  was  quietly  seated 
upon  a  gun ;  as  the  officer  advanced,  he  drily  inquired  if 
he  had  obeyed  orders. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  beat  to  quarters" — and  the  lively  tones  of  the 
fife  and  drum  were  quickly  heard  sounding  that  inspiring 
call.  A  thousand  active,  hardy-looking  fellows  in  a 
moment  stood  to  their  tackle  and  stations.  The  ship  was 
ready  for  action. 

In  the  meantime,  signals  had  been  passing  from  the 
British  Admiral's  ship  to  his  squadron.  Soon  after,  a 
barge  dashed  alongside  of  the  American  ship,  and  an 
officer  of  gallant  bearing  mounted  the  companion  ladder, 
to  whom  was  paid  the  highest  military  honours,  and 
conducted  to  the  presence  of  the  old  tar,  who  received 
his  distinguished  visiter  with  that  gentlemanly  courtesy 
for  which  he  is  so  remarkable. 

The  following  conversation  took  place  : 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA.  47 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  address  Commodore  Stewart,  I 
believe  1" 

"  My  name  is  Charles  Stewart,  sir,"  replied  he 
smiling  ;  "  and  I  have  the  honour  to  command  the  Home 
Squadron  of  the  United  States  Navy." 

After  a  pause  of  a  few  moments,  the  Admiral,  for 
such  was  the  rank  of  the  officer  with  the  star  upon  his 
breast,  said,  "  I  am  informed,  sir,  that  it  is  your  intention 
to  interrupt  the  passage  of  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  fleet 
into  that  harbour,"  pointing  towards  the  Havanna;  "  am 
I  rightly  informed,  sir  ?" 

"  If  for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  the  Island, 
— you  are  rightly  informed." 

"  You  certainly,  sir,"  repeated  the  Admiral  with  much 
warmth,  "  can  have  no  such  instructions  from  your 
Government.  It  was  thought  that  there  was  a  perfect 
understanding  between  Her  Majesty's  Ministers,  and  the 
late  Secretary  of  State  at  Washington,  upon  this  subject. 
It  is  far  from  the  wish  of  Her  Majesty's  Government  to 
enter  into  any  hostile  collision  with  the  United  States, 
with  whom  it  is  the  well  known  and  expressed  wish  of 
Her  Majesty  to  remain  upon  the  most  friendly  and 
pacific  terms.  Any  interference  upon  your  part  in  a 
matter  of  such  deep  and  lively  interest  to  Great  Britain, 
would  certainly  involve  the  two  nations  in  a  war;  I  may 
add,  nothing  could  be  more  unlooked  for,  and  nothing 
more  unwarrantable." 

"Now  look  ye,  Sir  George,"  said  the  Commodore, 
mildly  and  respectfully,  but  with  a  peculiar  air  of  deter- 
mination not  to  be  misunderstood,  "  whether  I  have 
positive  orders  or  not,  is  immaterial  to  you  ;  I  shall  act 
in  this  instance  without  regard  to  consequences,  and  for 


48  A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA. 

the  good  of  my  country.  I  shall  be  plain,  explicit  and 
frank  with  you — our  diplomacy  will  be  brief.  So  long 
as  the  confederacy  of  the  States  exists,  Cuba  must  not 
pass  into  the  hands  of  Great  Britain,  nor  any  other 
scheming,  enterprising,  mercantile  power.  Havanna  is 
the  key  to  the  Gulf,  into  which  pours  through  the 
channel  of  the  Mississippi,  the  wealth  of  all  the  Western 
and  Southern  States,  nor  can  my  country  be  insensible 
to  the  danger  of  her  peace  and  union,  which  must 
instantly  follow  from  that  timid  policy  which  would  per- 
mit this  Island  and  her  vast  military  fortification  to 
become  a  point  d'appui  for  a  British  crusade  against  her 
Southern  domestic  institutions.  At  all  events,  I  am  pre- 
pared to  assume  the  responsibility  of  my  present  position, 
and  to  sacrifice,  if  necessary,  in  maintaining  it,  my  own 
life  and  the  lives  of  all  those  whom  I  now  have  the 
honour  to  command.  While  that  flag  waves  over  the 
head  of  Charles  Stewart,  your  avowed  movement  will 
be  resisted  to  the  last ;"  and  mildly  turning  to  his  chief 
executive  officer,  he  observed  in  low  tones,  "  I  think  my 
country  will  applaud  the  act,  and  should  I  fall,  do  justice 
to  my  memory." 

For  a  moment  the  Admiral  gazed  at  the  imperturbable 
features  of  the  veteran  tar,  and  said — 

"  Are  you  resolved,  Commodore  Stewart  ?" 

"Admiral  Sir  George  Brooke,"  said  the  Commodore, 
advancing  close  to  him,  but  with  solemnity  and  respect, 
said  in  the  most  impressive  manner — "  Do  you  see  yon 
distant  Moro  Castle?  its  foundations  are  not  more  firm 
than  my  determination." 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  reply.  "  I  shall 
return  to  my  vessel,  and  shall  be  under  the  unpleasant 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA.  49 

necessity  of  blowing  you  out  of  the  water,  for  you  see  I 
am  ten  to  one." 

"  Blow  away,  sir,  but  before  you  make  the  experiment, 
be  pleased  to  cast  your  eyes  to  windward" — for  by  this 
time  the  Home  Squadron  were  within  cannon-shot,  bear- 
ing down  under  a  crowd  of  canvass. 

"  What  ships  are  those,  sir?"  said  the  Admiral, 
addressing  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Pennsylvania,  and 
whose  face  was  glowing  wTith  delight  at  the  prospect  of 
a  row  which  he  had  not  tasted  since  1814. 

"  Those  ships,  sir  V9 

"  Yes,  sir,  those  to  windward." 

"  O !  I  beg  pardon,  sir,  only  the  Constitution,  Macedo- 
nian, United  States,  Java,  Brandy  wine,  Yorktown, 
Germantown,  and  Steamers  Princeton  and  Mississippi." 

The  Admiral  then  turned  round  to  the  American  com- 
mander. Raising  his  hat  above  his  head,  he  said,  "  Com- 
modore Stewart,  farewell." 

"Farewell,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  Admiral 
departed,  every  military  honour  being  paid  to  him  that 
was  due  his  rank. 

A  cutter  came  alongside,  into  which  I  sprung, 
freighted  with  despatches,  and  orders  to  hasten  with  all 
possible  speed  to  a  southern  port  in  the  United  States. 
As  we  passed  the  British  transports,  we  observed  that 
they  were  crowded  with  troops.  We  passed  through  the 
American  line ;  every  thing  was  prepared  for  battle — 
the  crews  were  at  their  stations.  The  question  involun- 
tarily occurred,  how  many  of  these  gallant  fellows, 
whose  hearts  throb  with  enthusiasm,  will  be  laid  low  ere 
sunset  1 

We  could  observe  the  Pennsylvania  still  hove  to — 


50         A  GEEAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA. 

occasionally  a  bright  musket  or  cutlass  gleamed  in  the 
sun — and  a  flag  now  fluttered  from  the  pinnacle  of  each 
of  her  towering  masts.  The  squadron  was  advancing 
in  line  of  battle ;  whilst  the  Princeton  and  Mississippi 
were  hovering  like  hawks  upon  the  flanks.  The  British 
fleet  had  filed  away  for  the  harbour,  which  lay  directly 
on  a  line  with  the  American  flag  ship.  Whilst  gazing 
from  the  stern  of  our  receding  bark,  with  intense  interest 
upon  the  manoeuvres  of  the  two  fleets,  a  cloud  of  smoke 
rolled  from  the  side  of  the  Bellerophon,  and  ere  the  roar 
of  the  artillery  reached  us,  we  could  see  the  splinters  and 
crippled  spars  flying  into  the  air  from  the  decks  of  the 
Pennsylvania — but  no  return  to  that  terrible  salute. 
Again  and  again,  did  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame  pour 
from  the  sides  of  the  Bellerophon.  At  that  moment  the 
dark  hull  of  the  Pennsylvania  passed  between  two  large 
ships,  and  the  sea  and  air  shook  with  a  tremendous  con- 
cussion. Every  vessel  wras  now  engaged  in  close  com- 
bat— all  were  enveloped  in  a  dun  canopy  of  sulphurous 
smoke — above  which,  we  could  see  the  stars  and  stripes 
still  waving  proudly.  Occasionally  a  heavy  explosion 
burst  upon  the  ear. 

"  There  goes  Stockton's  big  gun  ;  I  pity  the  fellow  that 
got  that  pill ;  and  there's  another !" 

"  Hurra !"  said  the  skipper,  and  our  little  crew  waved 
their  hats,  and  stretched  over  the  bulwarks,  as  if  to  jump 
into  the  sea  to  aid  their  countrymen. 

Long  after  this  scene  had  sunk  below  the  horizon,  we 
could  hear  the  battle  like  a  gathering  tropical  storm. 
What  was  the  result  we  cannot  say;  duty  compelled  us 
from  the  glorious  conflict.  Whether  the  Commodore 
was  blown  out  of  water  or  not,  time  only  will  disclose. 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA.  51 

If  it  should  be  so,  we  know  what  the  people  of  the 
United  States  will  feel  for  the  memory  of  the  gallant 
old  fellow  ;  and  if  he  lives,  and  returns  triumphant,  we 
do  not  think  there  will  be  much  trouble  about  canvassing 
for  the  next  Presidency  of  these  United  States. 

The  foregoing  sketch  was  written  some  two  months 
before  the  meeting  of  Congress  ;  we  here  append  a 
report  of  an  interesting  debate  upon  the  floor  of  Con- 
gress, on  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 

Note. — Quite  a  skirmish  took  place  in  the  House  at  Washington,  on 
Wednesday,  between  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll.  The  question 
under  consideration  was  the  Home  Squadron.  Mr.  Adams  said,  in  the 
course  of  his  remarks  : 

"  Nine  millions ;  and  for  what  ?  To  spread  our  flag  to  the  winds  and 
show  our  stars  and  stripes  in  every  sea.  What  else  is  it  to  do  ?  Is  it 
necessary  at  this  time  for  the  defence  of  the  country  ?  Does  our  coast 
require  a  whole  squadron  to  protect  it  ?  Is  the  great  maritime  power  of 
the  earth  in  such  a  position  of  affairs  with  us  that  we  need  expect  the 
coming  of  a  British  squadron  here,  to  meet  which  this  home  squadron 
is  wanted  ?  No,  sir.  What  then  do  we  want  it  for  ?  There  was,  two 
years  ago,  a  report  from  the  then  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  accompanied 
by  a  report  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  which  there  was  an  intima- 
tion that  our  navy,  in  comparison  with  the  navy  of  Great  Britain,  was 
then  as  eight  to  one  :  that  the  British  navy  was,  in  fact,  eight  times  as 
large  as  our  own  ;  and  the  sum  then  asked  for  the  naval  service  of  the 
year  was  eight  millions :  (now  we  are  asked  for  nine  millions— one  mil- 
lion  more,)  and  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  contended  for 
the  principle  that  it  was  the  policy  of  the  government  to  go  on  increasing 
its  naval  establishment  as  fast  as  it  could  until  it  rose  to  half  the  size  of 
the  navy  of  Great  Britain.  Now  put  these  two  things  together.  Their 
navy  was  then  to  ours  as  eight  to  one  :  and  we  were  to  augment  ours 
till  it  was  half  as  large  as  theirs;  theirs  being  eight,  ours  must  be  four; 
and  four  times  eight  are  thirty -two,  so  that  the  secretary,  in  substance, 
asked  of  Congress  to  sanction  a  principle  which  necessarily  involved  the 
appropriation  of  thirty-two  millions  of  dollars  for  the  national  service. — 
This  was  asked,  I  say,  two  years  ago,  as  proper  at  that  time  for  the 


52  A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA. 

use  of  the  navy.  And  the  gentleman  has  already  said  that  if  we  go  on 
increasing  our  naval  force  at  the  rate  we  are  now  pursuing,  thirty-two 
millions  will  not  he  enough.  No,  sir,  it  will  not :  fifty  millions  will  not 
cover  the  expenditure.  My  friend  from  Philadelphia,  (Mr.  Ingersoll) 
was  I  recollect  very  ferocious,  about  that  time,  for  the  burning  of  Lon- 
don, [a  laugh]  with  our  navy  ;  he  told  us  it  could  be  done  ;  and  if  our 
naval  force  was  not  equal  to  it  then,  he  was  ready  to  go  on  and  increase 
it  till  it  should  be  strong  enough  to  sail  up  the  Thames  and  burn  Lon- 
don. [Roars  of  laughter.]  Yes,  sir,  London;  not  Chatham,  which  I 
believe  some  Dutch  admiral  did  once  set  fire  to,  or  attempted  it. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll  here,  amid  much  surrounding  merriment,  inter- 
posed  to  explain,  and  Mr.  Adams  assenting,  he  stated  that  he  had  only 
proposed  to  burn  London  in  return  for  what  the  gentleman  from  Massa- 
chusetts had  proposed,  viz.  to  take  a  British  fleet  up  the  Mississippi  and 
burn  Natchez !  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  Adams,  I  burn  Natchez  ?  I  take  the  British  fleet  up  the  Missis- 
sippi ?  I  never  proposed  any  such  thing.  I  bring  a  British  fleet  up  the 
Mississippi  to  burn  Natchez  ?     Oh  no,  sir.     This  is  an  afterthought. 

Mr.  Adams  observed  that  he  believed  that  when  the  project  of  the 
Home  Squadron  was  first  broached,  he  voted  for  it. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll.  Yes:  there  were  in  fact  but  three  voting 
against  it. 

Mr.  Adams.  Ay  :  and  that  was  because  this  House  did  not  then 
know  what  it  was  for.  Sir,  it  looks  to  a  war  with  Great  Britain — to 
this  first,  and  then  to  the  fact  that  in  that  event  the  coast  will  require  a 
large  squadron  for  its  defence.  It  is  proposed  to  go  to  war  with  Great 
Britain,  in  case  she  should  take  a  fancy  to  take  Cuba.  That  is  the  reason 
for  increasing  this  Home  Squadron.     That's  it.     It  is  war,  sir. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll  here  said  he  was  very  anxious  to  put  one  question 
to  the  honourable  gentleman  from  Massachusetts :  would  the  gentleman 
allow  him  to  ask  one  question  ? 

Mr.  Adams.  Why,  I  believe  not,  sir.  If  the  gentleman  wants  the 
floor  to  put  questions  to  me,  I  think  I  had  better  not  yield  it,  for  I  do 
not  want  to  be  questioned  by  the  gentleman  just  now.  What  question 
does  he  want  to  put  ? 

Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll.  I  ask  the  gentleman,  would  he  let  Great  Britain 
have  Cuba  ?  would  he  ? 

Mr.  Adams.  I  ask  the  gentleman  in  turn,  is  he  ready  to  go  to  war 
with  Great  Britain  ?  is  he  ? 


A  GREAT  BATTLE  OFF  THE  HAVANNA.         53 

Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll.  Without  one  moment's  hesitation,  sooner  than 
let  her  take  Cuba. 

Mr.  Adams.  I  believe  so.  I  believe  the  gentleman  is  ready  ;  and  as 
that  is  at  least  a  possible  event,  this  Home  Squadron  appropriation  is 
meant  to  provide  for  it.  I  am  against  a  war,  I  believe  the  country  is 
against  it,  and  that  they  will  support  the  proposition  of  the  gentleman 
from  New  Hampshire.  I  believe  that  the  morals  of  the  country  are  not 
so  deeply  corrupt  as  to  be  prepared  to  go  to  war  with  Great  Britain  for 
the  sake  of  a  company  of  Creoles ;  no,  nor  yet  for  the  sake  of  annexing 
Texas  to  the  Union  :  for  that  is  another  of  the  objects  in  view. — The 
gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  said  that  it  is  not  by  reducing  the  expen- 
ditures in  the  army  or  the  navy  that  we  can  effect  a  reduction  in  our 
expenditures.  No ;  but  by  administrative  measures  here,  at  home. 
Well,  sir,  suppose  we  shall  adopt,  at  once,  the  British  plan,  and  let  the 
members  of  this  House  and  the  members  of  the  Senate  serve  without 
pay.  Suppose  we  strike  out  the  items  of  our  pay  and  mileage,  and  all 
the  other  expenses,  as  well  of  Congress  things,  and  simply  talking  about 
the  extravagances  in  the  various  Departments,  and  simply  dismounting 
a  regiment,  (which  he  took  for  granted  was  to  be  remounted  again,)  and 
calling  home  the  Home  Squadron,  which  in  a  year  or  two  was  to  be  sent 
out  again ;  if,  in  short,  they  did  not  do  the  thing  effectually,  and  in  the 
right  way,  that  responsibility  would  not  only  weigh  heavily,  but  would 
weigh' destructively,  upon  them. 

We  have  gathered  the  above  from  the  able  Report  in  the  National  In- 
telligencer. 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS, 

OR 
COMING  EVENTS  CAST  THEIR  SHADOWS  BEFORE. 


A  BATTLE  BETWEEN  A  FIRST-RATE  MAN-OF-WAR  AND  A  STEAMER,  IN  THE 
YEAR  1845. 


The  object  of  this  sketch,  the  reader  will  discover, 
is  to  illustrate  the  great  improvement  made  in  this 
country  in  nautical  science.  For  this  purpose  he  has, 
by  a  species  of  second  sight  or  prophetic  clairvoyance, 
peeped  into  the  future,  and  anticipated  the  results  of 
American  science  in  any  collision  that  may  come  with 
the  usual  forms  of  naval  belligerency,  and  shadowed 
forth  in  striking  colours  the  omnipotent  power  of  an 
element  subdued  by  art,  and  which  promises  to  effect 
yet  greater  changes  in  the  condition  of  the  human  race. 

The  speculative  philosopher  and  the  scientific  experi- 
menter will  here  be  presented  with  food  for  meditation, 
cooked  up  in  a  pleasing  and  palatable  form. 

What  will  be  the  effects  when  both  parties  adopt  the 
same  mode  of  warfare,  or  whether  there  will  ever, 
under  such  circumstances,  be  any  fighting  at  all,  the 
second  sight  of  the  author  has  not  reached.  But  that 
the  old  process  of  hammering  brains  out,  the  reader  will 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  55 

agree,  with  the  "  old  hero  of  Trafalgar,"  to  be  "  used 
up,"  and  soon  to  be  an  ancient  system,  as  feeble  and 
ineffectual  as  the  catapult  and  balista. 

England  is  assumed  as  one  of  the  belligerent  parties, 
not  from  any  hostile  feelings  on  the  part  of  the  writer  to 
her  renowned  flag,  or  with  a  wish  to  encourage  any 
such  feelings  on  this  side  of  the  water  against  a  nation 
with  whom  it  is  our  interest  to  remain  at  peace,  but 
selected  as  the  most  powerful  in  naval  strength,  to  whom 
Neptune  has  for  centuries  paid  the  tribute  due  to  her 
valour.  It  is  the  giant  warrior  of  the  ocean  sinking 
beneath  the  arm  of  science. 

Bermuda,  May  6,  1845. 
To  the  Rt.  Hon.  George  Augustus  Vansittart,  Oxford. 

My  dear  George  : 

You  recollect  your  last  words  upon  parting  with  me 
at  Chatham — "  I  envy  you,  with  health,  youth,  spirit,  an 
honourable  station  on  board  the  finest  ship  afloat,  and 
commanded  by  as  noble  a  seaman  as  ever  trod  the  deck 
of  a  man-of-war ;  the  path  of  glory  is  open  to  you ;  it 
will  be  your  own  fault  if  you  fail  to  acquire  fortune 
and  honour."  I  have  often  since  reflected  upon  those 
words,  and  my  own  pride  and  confidence  when  I  sur- 
veyed our  magnificent  craft,  whose  gigantic  and  sym- 
metrical proportions  were  the  admiration  and  astonish- 
ment of  all  who  beheld  her.  I  see  her  now,  as  she  then 
lay  at  anchor  amidst  a  fleet  of  men-of-war,  like  a 
towering  oak  in  a  forest  of  dwarf  pines — her  immense 
hull  bristling  with  a  quadruple  array  of  one  hundred  and 


56  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

twenty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery — her  beautifully  rounded 
stern  and  quarter  galleries,  over  which  waved  that  invin- 
cible banner,  the  acknowledged  symbol  of  triumph  in 
every  sea — her  clean  run  and  noble  bows — her  bright 
decks  and  extended  batteries,  and  a  picked  crew  of  a 
thousand  thorough-bred  tars,  in  perfect  keeping  with 
their  floating  castle.  I  believed,  then,  in  the  invinci- . 
bility  of  that  giant  warrior,  and  that  she  could  splinter 
to  atoms  whole  navies,  with  one  blast  of  her  sulphurous 
breath.  But,  alas!  George,  you  and  I  were  under  a 
sad  delusion.  We  have  been  "  pinked"  by  a  cockboat, 
— by  a  ship  we  could  carry  as  a  launch  upon  the 
booms. 

Heroes  of  St.  Vincent,  the  Nile  and  Trafalgar !  awake 
from  your  sleep  beneath  the  waves  of  your  ancient  seas  ! 
Rise  out  of  your  red  coralline  tombs,  and  listen  to  a  tale 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  as  preposterous  and  incredible 
to  you  in  your  "  by-gone"  days  of  nautical  warfare,  as 
that  the  Victory,  commanded  by  Nelson,  should  be  cap- 
tured by  a  French  revenue  cutter ;  or  that  one  of 
Homer's  heroes,  thundering  upon  the  plains  of  Troy, 
were  toppled  over  his  chariot  by  a  pocket-pistol,  popped 
off  by  a  puny  loafer.  The  Thunderer,  with  all  her  war- 
like panoply,  is  gone  for  ever.  She  lies,  now,  down 
upon  the  bottom  of  the  deep  sea.  The  dolphin  and  the 
boneeta  glide  silently  over  those  decks,  once  peopled 
with  a  gallant  band,  nerved  for  a  contest  with  storms  or 
foes;  and  the  ground  shark  rubs  his  slimy  carcass 
against  her  gilded  stern,  or  glares  through  the  window's 
of  the  admiral's  cabin. 

But  to  my  story  of  this  unlooked  for  disaster,  which 
has  crushed   my  present  hopes  of  fortune  and  prefer- 


STBAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  57 

ment,  and  makes  me  view  my  teakettle,  now  simmering 
before  me,  with  fear  and  respect. 

Our  ship,  you  know,  was  especially  built  and  fitted 
out  to  crush  the  navy  of  those  transatlantic  repudiators, 
and,  if  necessary,  to  give  them  a  touch  of  Hong  Kong 
and  Ning-Poo.  This  Oregon  and  Cuban  war  being 
however  not  exactly  an  opium  question,  it  was  necessary 
to  strike  a  decisive  blow.  The  prospect  of  a  beautiful 
"set-to"  with  one  of  their  crack  ships,  the  Pennsylvania, 
was  the  constant,  theme  for  discussion  amongst  the 
middies.  We  all  felt  perfectly  confident  that  in  such  a 
"  pretty  fight,"  we  should  bring  that  boasted  ship  home. 
We  knew,  however,  there  would  be  some  warm  work, 
for  you  know,  George,  they  have  got  the  old  stuff  in 
them,  which  it  will  take  a  century  of  crossing  to  root 
out. 

Full  of  enthusiasm  and  confidence  in  the  bravery  of 
our  crew,  strength  of  our  ship,  and  the  skill  of  the  re- 
nowed  seaman  who  commanded  her,  we  hailed  with 
joy  the  signal  for  our  departure.  The  day  after  you  left 
us  for  your  severe  Oxonian  duties — i.  e.  a  curricle  and 
champagne — we  bid  adieu  to  the  white  shores  of  old 
Albion.  The  last  gun  had  pealed  from  the  bows  of  the 
Thunderer  to  summon  all  wanderers  on  board — the 
anchor  was  heaved  from  its  slimy  bed — and  at  the 
same  moment  that  a  cloud  of  white  canvass  dropped 
from  every  spar,  "  Rule  Britannia"  was  struck  up  by 
the  band  upon  the  quarter-deck.  Slowly  and  majestic- 
ally she  passed  the  populous  shores,  booming  a  salute  at 
intervals  from  her  middle-deck  guns — ten  thousand  loyal 
hearts  from  the  shores  and  numerous  craft  responded 
to  that  salute  in  hearty  cheers.     In  a  few  hours  our 

5 


58  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

three-decker  bowed  gracefully  to  the  first  swell  of  old 
Ocean,  and  with  a  flowing  sheet,  foamed  our  way  over 
the  crested  billows. 

Her  sailing  qualities  proved  to  be  superior  to  any  ship 
in  the  service.  She  sailed  like  a  clipper,  and  worked 
like  a  sloop,  and  in  a  short  time  we  were  in  warm  lati- 
tudes, with  a  clear  sky  above  and  the  blue  sea  beneath, 
through  which  we  ploughed  with  a  steady  and  trackless 
speed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  February,  a  sail  was 
reported  to  be  in  sight,  and  orders  promptly  came 
from  the  state  cabin  to  give  chase.  In  a  few  hours  we 
overhauled  an  American  seventy-four  gun  ship,  under 
the  command  of  a  gallant  and  distinguished  officer.  He 
manoeuvred  his  vessel  admirably,  but  was  so  inferior  to  us 
in  numerical  force  and  weight  of  metal,  that  it  was  per- 
fect madness  upon  his  part  to  contend  with  such  fearful 
odds.  He  did,  however,  sustain  a  spirited  fight  for 
twenty  minutes — commencing  the  action  with  three 
cheers,  and  delivering  his  broadsides  with  astonishing 
rapidity — and  by  some  accident  or  another,  for  which  I 
cannot  account,  managed  to  rake  us  twice,  and  did  con- 
siderable damage,  tripping  up  the  heels  of  some  fifty  as 
fine  fellows  as  ever  pulled  and  hauled.  An  unlucky 
shot  for  him  carried  away  his  mainmast,  which  enabled 
our  vessel  to  deliver  a  whole  broadside  from  every  tier 
of  a  three-decker.  He  went  down,  bow  foremost,  before 
the  smoke  had  blown  away.  There  was  nothing  visible 
but  his  mizzen-peak,  from  which  fluttered  upwards  for  a 
moment  the  stripes  and  stars,  and  then  disappeared 
beneath  the  boiling  waters.     He  died  gloriously,  as  a 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  59 

brave  seaman  would  wish  to  die,  in  his  own  ship  and 
the  flag  of  his  country  still  flying. 

As  soon  as  the  excitement  of  the  scene  had  passed 
away,  the  fate  of  that  gallant  fellow  and  his  brave  crew 
spread  a  gloom  throughout  our  ship.  The  strength  of 
our  vessel  was  now  apparent ;  every  man  on  board  was 
convinced  that  hand  to  hand  there  was  nothing  afloat 
that  could  withstand  a  well-told  broadside  from  the 
Thunderer.  But  we  are  short-sighted  mortals,  my  dear 
fellow;  we  little  knew  what  was  in  store  for  us,  and 
how  soon  a  tenfold  vengeance  would  be  hurled  upon  us 
for  the  fate  of  that  gallant  crew. 

Another  sail  was  reported  from  the  forward  look-out, 
and  again  our  ship  was  cleaving  aside  the  brine  in 
pursuit. 

When  first  descried,  the  stranger  was  covered  with 
white  canvass,  and  looked  like  a  tall  pyramid  of  snow 
upon  the  dark  blue  horizon.  Whilst  admiring  her 
appearance  and  the  swell  of  her  beautifully  cut  sails, 
you  may  imagine  our  astonishment  upon  the  sudden 
disappearance  of  every  sheet  of  canvass,  from  the  deck 
to  the  pinnacle  of  her  tapering  masts — her  yards  all 
squared  with  mathematical  precision,  as  if  at  anchor 
in  port. 

"  Well,"  said  the  admiral,  "  that's  the  conduct  of  a 
prudent  and  discreet  gentleman,  and  will  save  us  some 
trouble,  and  perhaps  some  powder  and  shot,  and  shows 
a  laudable  economy  in  cotton  canvass  too.  Mr. 
Hawser,"  addressing  the  first  officer,  whilst  he  gazed 
long  and  intently  at  the  strange  vessel  that  had  just  per- 
formed the  singular  manoeuvre  before  mentioned — "that 
is  the  prettiest  model  of  a  ship  for  her  size  I  have  ever 


60  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

seen.  It  is  really  a  perfect  picture.  It  does  an  old 
sailor's  heart  good  to  gaze  at  such  a  craft.  She  has 
some  queer  points  about  her,  too — "  And  then  slowly 
pacing  the  deck,  he  muttered  something  about  "  fine 
pleasure  yacht — run  into  shallow  waters — tender — " 
then  suddenly  turning  to  the  officer — "  How  fast  are  we 
going  through  the  water  ?" 

"  Twelve  knots,  sir." 

"  Good !  In  fifteen  minutes  we  shall  be  up  with  her. 
You  will  take  possession  of  that  ship,  transfer  the  best  of 
her  crew,  with  the  officers,  to  our  own — and,  do  you 
hear,  Mr.  Hawser?  bring  her  under  the  quarter — I  shall 
have  special  use  for  her," — and  he  descended  to  his 
cabin. 

The  fifteen  minutes  had  expired,  and  twenty  to  that, 
and  yet  the  strange  craft  was  not  one  inch  nearer ;  on 
the  contrary,  the  distance  between  the  two  vessels  had 
seemingly  increased. 

The  officers  were  collected  about  in  groups,  talking 
in  whispers,  and  pointing  occasionally  to  the  distant 
vessel,  which  still  remained  out  of  the  reach  of  our  guns, 
and  every  stitch  of  her  canvass  furled  close  to  the  yards. 

At  this  moment  the  admiral  came  upon  deck,  and  as 
he  leisurely  walked  aft,  cast  a  glance  over  the  quarter, 
then  stopped  for  a  moment,  looked  up  and  around  with 
half-closed,  inquiring  eyes,  then  suddenly  turning  to  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  sternly  demanded  why  he  had  not 
obeyed  orders. 

"  I  told  you,  sir,  to  take  possession  of  that  ship  and 
keep  her  on  my  quarter." 

Hawser  respectfully  touched  his  hat,  and  stammered 
out  that  his  commander  would  perceive,  at  a  glance  at 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  61 

the  chase,  why  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  obey  orders, 
as  there  she  is,  dead  ahead,  under  bare  poles,  and  rather 
farther  off  than  when  she  took  in  all  sail. 

"What  do  you  say?"  And  he  mounted  the  horse- 
block, and  gazed  long  and  intently  through  his  glass  at 
the  object  of  general  wonder. 

"What  is  the  report  from  aloft?"  The  report  was 
briefly  given,  that  the  strange  vessel  was  a  beautiful  ship, 
taunt  rigged,  man-of-war  fashion,  no  guns,  and  going 
through  the  water  two  feet  to  our  one. 

"  It  is  not  a  steamer,  sir,"  added  the  officer,  "  as  she 
has  neither  paddle-wheels  nor  smokepipe,  but  decks 
apparently  clean  fore  and  aft,  as  our  own." 

"  But  there,  sir,  she  is  hauled  up  dead  into  the  wind's 
eye ;  look  how  she  scatters  the  spray  from  her  bows — 
it  flies  clear  over  the  foreyard." 

"  Brace  forward  the  yards.  Try  her  with  as  many 
of  those  guns  as  you  can  bring  to  bear." 

Some  twenty  of  the  larboard  forward  guns  were  dis- 
charged in  quick  succession  at  the  sailless  stranger,  who 
still  continued  her  phantomlike  progress,  bounding  over 
the  seas,  with  the  buoyancy  of  a  cork  and  the  speed  of 
a  race-horse,  regardless  of  the  salute  which  had  dashed 
up  the  water  within  a  few  fathoms  of  her  bright  hull. 
The  lower-deck  guns  were  now  cleared  away,  and  as 
many  more  of  the  heavier  ordnance  slowly  and  delibe- 
rately discharged.  The  stranger  was  still  out  of  reach, 
though  one  or  two  balls,  fired  at  the  greatest  practicable 
elevation  were  observed  to  drop  into  the  water  in  her 
wake.  The  guns  of  every  tier  were  tried  in  succession, 
but  without  effect.  In  the  meantime  the  stranger,  during 
all  this  uproar  and  cannonade  on  our  part,  had  run  far 
to  windward,  entirelv  out  of  reach  of  the  heaviest  cannon 


62  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

from  our  ship.  We  then  put  about,  and  the  same  effort 
made  with  every  gun  from  the  whole  starboard  broad- 
side in  succession. 

"  There  goes  her  flags,  sir,  at  the  fore  and  mizzen 
peak,  and  a  signal  from  the  main." 

"  What  flag  is  it  V 

"  The  stripes  and  stars." 

"  And  can  you  make  out  that  one  upon  the  main  V9 

"  Yes  sir : — Prince — ,  I  think — aye,  now  it  runs  out 
clear  in  the  breeze — Princeton." 

"  Ah  ha  !"  said  the  admiral,  and  he  consulted  a  book 
with  a  blue  cover,  which  was  handed  to  him,  "  why 
that's  the  fellow  that  beat  the  Great  Western  a  year  or 
so  back ;  no  wonder  we  could  not  overhaul  him ;  you 
might  as  well  attempt  to  give  chase  to  a  norther.  Heave 
the  ship  to,  perhaps  that  light-heeled  gentleman  may 
come  within  range ;  if  not,  bear  away  and  let's  leave 
him." 

The  boatswain's  whistle  resounded  over  our  deck,  and 
that  manoeuvre  was  performed  almost  at  the  word.  But 
the  Princeton  appeared  in  no  way  desirous  to  comply 
with  our  wishes,  and  had  assumed  a  position  directly  to 
windward.  An  alteration  had  evidently  taken  place  in 
her  upper  works,  a  portion  of  the  bulwarks  removed, 
and  some  huge  engine,  with  the  aid  of  our  glasses,  was 
perceptible  upon  her  deck. 

A  broadside  was  then  discharged  from  our  lower, 
middle  and  upper  decks.  We  all  watched  the  balls  ri- 
cochetting  from  wave  to  wave,  and  saw  them  again  and 
again,  one  after  another,  fall  short  some  hundred  fathoms 
of  the  mark.  The  head  of  the  steamer  was  then  turned 
towards  us,  and  at  about  the  place  where  our  shot  had 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  63 

dropped  harmlessly  into  the  water,  rounded  to,  and  again 
resumed  her  former  position,  broadside  on. 

At  the  same  instant  that  an  order  was  given  to  fill 
away,  a  sheet  of  flame  burst  forth  from  the  deck  of  that 
infernal  sailless  craft,  with  a  cloud  of  white  rolling 
smoke,  and  simultaneously,  with  a  roar  like  thunder,  a 
ponderous  ball  of  iron  crashed  through  the  side  of  our 
ship,  tearing  a  hole  in  her  sides  that  a  Yorkshire  farmer 
might  drive  a  team  through,  ripping  up  the  decks  and 
timbers,  scattering  splinters  in  every  direction,  dismount- 
ing a  half  dozen  guns,  crippling  the  mainmast,  and  kill- 
ing and  wounding  fifty  men. 

"  Don't  you  think  he  has  neared  us  ?  It  will  never  do 
to  be  idle  this  way." 

And  again  were  all  our  batteries  discharged  at  the 
foe.  The  repercussion  of  that  cannonade  had  scarcely 
ceased  reverberating  from  wave  to  wave,  when  another 
crash,  accompanied  by  the  same  terrific  peal,  like  thun- 
der, came  in  abaft  the  foremast,  passing  through  and 
through  both  sides  of  the  ship,  tearing  up  the  transverse 
beams,  and  dismounting  four  heavy  guns.  The  shrieks 
and  groans  of  the  wounded,  seldom  or  ever  heard  or 
attended  to  in  the  din  and  excitement  of  battle,  now  rung 
through  the  vessel ;  but  the  silence  of  our  own  batteries, 
and  the  stern  discipline  of  the  crew,  who  stood  to  their 
stations  with  folded  arms  and  compressed  teeth,  made 
every  shriek  and  groan  audible.  The  smoke  from  that 
terrible  engine  had  now  floated  down  upon  us,  and  for 
a  moment  hovered  over  our  decks  as  if  to  survey  the 
scene  of  slaughter  and  destruction,  ere  another  missile 
was  sent  to  complete  the  havoc. 

The  Princeton  had  now  taken  a  position  which  would 


64  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

throw  her  shot  diagonally  through  our  ship.  The  con- 
sequences from  such  a  shot  were  at  once  appreciated  by 
our  commander,  and  prompt  orders  given  to  present  our 
full  broadside;  but  ere  that  could  be  done, it  came,  and  took 
us  directly  under  the  starboard  fore  chains  and  passed 
out  forward  of  the  larboard  mizzen  chains,  shattering  the 
already  crippled  mainmast,  which  for  a  moment  tottered, 
and  then,  with  a  rushing  sound,  as  it  cleaved  the  air  in 
its  fall,  crashed  over  the  side  into  the  sea,  with  all  its 
hamper,  tearing  up  the  deck,  and  killing  many  who  had 
escaped  the  splinters  strewn  about  by  the  mass  of  iron 
which  hurtled  through  the  ship.  Two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  were  killed  and  wounded  by  that  last  blow.  The 
middle  gun  deck,  from  the  foremast  to  the  mizen,  was  a 
perfect  wreck ;  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded  and  dying 
were  appalling.  I  have  seen  less  havoc  and  slaughter 
on  board  a  ninety,  after  two  hours'  work,  side  by  side, 
with  an  antagonist  of  the  same  weight  of  metal.  In  a 
fair  fight,  blow  for  blow,  the  blood  is  up  and  kept  warm, 
and  death,  in  all  its  horrible  and  ghastly  shapes,  is  dis- 
regarded ;  but  to  be  plugged  into  like  a  floating  target, 
with  no  chance  to  return  the  salute,  is  horrible  ;  and  yet 
our  poor  fellows,  as  I  said,  behaved  nobly ;  not  a  mur- 
mur, though  it  was  apparent  to  all,  we  were  at  the  mercy 
of  a  foe  who  might  demolish  us  at  a  single  blow,  or  de- 
liberately experiment  upon  our  shattered  hull.  We 
watched  with  feverish  anxiety  for  the  next  flash.  No 
one  knew  where  it  would  strike.  For  my  own  part,  I 
hoped  it  would  take  us  between  wind  and  water,  and 
finish  the  business.* 

*  This  sketch  was  written  some  time  before  the  unfortunate  accident 
on  board  the  Princeton  at  Washington,  and  however  much  we  may  de 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  65 

"  Here  it  comes—there's  the  flash— look  out,  boys !" 
and  the  next  moment  it  passed  over  our  heads,  a  few- 
feet  above  the  hammock-netting,  with  a  noise  like  the 
clatter  of  ten  thousand  topsail  sheet-blocks.  Nearly  a 
mile  to  leeward  it  dashed  up  into  the  air  a  pyramid  of 
foam  and  spray  as  high  as  the  maintop  of  a  frigate;  then, 
after  scooping  up  some  tons  of  brine,  and  crushing  it 
into  vapour,  sank  into  the  bosom  of  the  deep,  to  communi- 
cate with  its  bloody  associates,  that  had  done  such  havoc 
to  our  ill-fated  ship. 

Whether  this  was  intentional  or  not  we  could  not  then 
say.  I,  for  one,  confess  I  felt  grateful  for  the  "  miss." 
As  the  others  had  been  plumpers,  we  had  no  reason  to 
believe  otherwise  than  that  it  was  a  merciful  warning, 
which  our  foe  had  been  pleased  to  afford  us. 

The  breeze  had  now  freshened,  and  with  it  a  sea  had 
got  up,  which  made  the  Thunderer  roll  heavily.  The 
guns  broke  loose  from  their  shattered  carriages,  and 
were  crushing  the  bodies  of  the  slain  and  wounded. 
Several  explosions  of  powder  had  taken  place  below,  and 
the  alarm  of  fire  was  sounded.  Altogether,  the  scene 
upon  the  first,  middle  and  third  gun  decks  was  one  which 
will  never  be  effaced  from  my  memory. 

The  old  admiral  still  remained  at  his  post,  giving  his 
orders  wTith  the  greatest  coolness,  occasionally  muttering 
to  himself — 

"  Yes,  I  believe  the  question  is  settled — there  is  no  more 
glory  in  naval  battles.     In  future  we  shall  have  to  draw 

plore  that  event,  it  has,  in  the  opinions  of  all,  proved  nothing,  but  that 
the  piece  was  defective  :  the  same  accident  has  occurred  repeatedly  on 
board  our  men-of-war.  A  gun  burst  on  board  the  Frigate  President,  by 
which  Commodore  Rodgers  was  wounded  and  some  ten  men  killed. 


66  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

lots  for  the  first  shot.  But,  as  long  as  my  name  is  old 
Bluewater,  curse  me  if  I'll  be  the  first  to  strike  the  flag 
of  one  of  Her  Majesty's  first-rates  to  a  boat  with  one 
gun,  though  that  be  as  big  as  ten  of  Queen  Anne's  pocket- 
pieces." 

Nearly  ten  minutes  had  now  elapsed  since  the  last 
shot,  which  had  passed  over  us,  and  kicked  up  such  a 
dust  under  our  lee ;  and  now  the  Princeton  had  taken  a 
position  which  would  rake  us  fore  and  aft.  Every  mo- 
ment we  expected  to  hear  that  enormous  ball  of  iron 
crushing  through  the  stern,  when  she  came  down  upon 
us  like  a  steed  that  had  long  been  checked  with  a  power- 
ful curb.  Our  ship  was  crippled  and  no  longer  obeyed 
the  helm,  and  rolled  heavily  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  at 
every  heave  shipping  tons  of  water  through  the  shattered 
sides.  We  were  sinking.  All  hands  were  now  engaged 
endeavouring  to  repair,  in  some  measure,  the  damage, 
when  our  terrible  foe  swept  down  like  a  hawk,  within  a 
hundred  fathoms  of  our  stern. 

"What  ship  is  that?"  said  an  officer,  through  a 
trumpet. 

There  was  no  reply  upon  our  part.  Hurried  orders 
were  given  to  run  aft  some  heavy  guns. 

"  For  the  honour  of  the  flag  which  still  waves  over  us, 
let  us  give  him  one  shot  before  we  go  down,"  said  the 
old  admiral. 

"Is  it  your  intention  to  continue  this  contest?"  uttered 
the  same  clear  voice,  "  if  it  may  be  called  such  when  the 
fiffhting  is  all  on  one  side.  I  have  come  down,  sir,  to 
offer  you  any  assistance  you  may  require.  I  sent  three 
or  four  messengers  on  board  of  you,  and  one  over  your 
heads.     I  hope  the  gallant  commander  of  that  once 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  67 

magnificent  vessel  will  see  the  necessity  of  sparing  the 
lives  of  his  brave  people.  If  your  flag  is  not  struck  in 
ten  minutes,  it  will  be  my  painful  duty  to  send  a  shot 
into  your  stern  window,  which  I  am  free  to  confess  will 
split  you  in  twain,  like  a  ripe  water-melon.  You  will 
pardon  the  figure,  but  I  am  a  plain  sailor,  and  a  Jersey- 
man  ;  that  fruit  is  familiar  to  me." 

He  then  gracefully  touched  his  hat  and  waved  his 
bright  trumpet.  As  if  by  magic,  his  matchless  craft 
quickly  whirled  round,  and  in  less  time  than  I  have  taken 
in  the  description,  was  a  mile  from  us,  as  if  impelled 
through  the  water  by  the  will  alone  of  her  commander. 

A  council  of  war  was  now  held  upon  the  quarter-deck, 
and  after  hearing  all  the  reports  of  the  condition  of  the 
ship,  and  being  convinced  that  she  would  not  float  an 
hour  longer,  it  was  finally  determined,  though  with  great 
reluctance,  and  terrible  heartburnings,  that  the  flag 
should  be  struck.  There  were  four  hundred  killed  and 
wounded,  out  of  a  crew  of  twelve  hundred  brave  fellows, 
when  we  first  fell  in  with  this  steamer.  It  would  have 
been  worse  than  cruelty  to  sacrifice  the  lives  of  the  gal- 
lant fellows,  as  a  target  to  be  cut  down  by  a  foe  from 
whom  we  could  neither  fly  nor  bring  to  close  quarters. 
On  my  way  from  the  execution  of  my  melancholy  duty, 
I  passed  an  old  tar,  whose  legs  were  dreadfully  shattered 
by  one  of  the  heavy  guns  which  had  broken  loose. 

"  How  goes  it,  Jack  V1 

"  Well,  your  honour;  I  believe  I've  got  my  discharge 
in  full ;  but,  before  I  go,  just  tell  an  old  shipmate  where 
all  those  three-deckers  were  that  have  been  hammering 
at  us,  tripping  up  the  heels  of  some  three  hundred  jovial 
fellows,  knocking  ten  parts  into  one,  besides  making  a 


68  STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS. 

brig  of  a  first  rate ;  for,  blast  me,  if  all  of  us,  han't  been 
blinking  like  injens  through  the  ports,  but  I'm  blowed  if 
I  ever  laid  eyes  on  any  thing  but  the  maintop  of  the 
Thunderer.  Thank  you  for  tipping  an  old  salt  a  flipper, 
just  as  he's  going  to  slip  his  wind  ;  but  it  would  greatly 
relieve  my  mind  if — " 

Death  had  laid  his  cold  hand  upon  poor  Jack.  He  felt 
he  must  obey  the  summons ;  and  then  raising  his  bloody 
hand,  he  murmured  a  faint  "  Hurra  !  for  old  England," 
and  expired  without  a  groan. 

Our  flag  was  struck  just  as  the  fourth  bell  tolled.  The 
Princeton  came  down,  whirled  round  our  immense  and 
shattered  hull,  as  if  to  survey  the  havoc  she  had  done. 
It  was  like  the  winged  eagle  hovering  round  the  carcass 
of  the  dying  lion. 

In  a  few  minutes,  the  boats  of  both  vessels  were  out ; 
and  in  a  short  time,  all  hands  were  transferred  to  the 
Princeton.  Soon  after  the  last  boat-load  had  quitted  the 
sinking  ship,  she  keeled  over — settled  down  by  the  stern 
— a  column  of  water  burst  up  from  her  decks  and  spouted 
into  the  air  to  a  great  height,  and  ere  it  fell  again  in 
showers,  the  Thunderer  man-of-war  had  disappeared 
beneath  the  dark  waters,  which  now  rolled  unbroken, 
where,  but  a  few  moments  before,  had  floated  a  model 
of  nautical  strength  and  beauty. 

It  is  impossible  for  me,  under  my  present  state  of  mind, 
to  give  you  a  description  of  the  wonderful  ship  which 
destroyed  our  three-decker.  At  some  future  time  I  will 
do  so.  We  have  been  treated  with  every  kind  considera- 
tion. The  old  Admiral  has  become  a  perfect  convert  to 
all  the  theories  of  our  gallant  captor,  whose  vessel  is  as 


STEAM  AGAINST  SAILS.  69 

remarkable  for  comfort  and  convenience  as  efficiency  in 
battle. 

I  have  taken  passage  in  a  packet-ship  for  England, 
and  hope  soon  again  to  take  you  by  the  hand,  where  we 
will  discuss  these  matters  over  a  cool  decanter. 

Such  is  my  horror  of  steamers,  however,  that  it  will 
be  a  long  while  before  I  shall  look  upon  one  without  re- 
calling to  mind  the  scenes  I  witnessed  on  board  the  ill- 
fated  Thunderer.     Truly  yours, 

Fitz  Roy  Fitz  Gubbins. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS  BETWEEN  HOME 
AND  CHINA. 

PART  I. 

Let  landsmen  praise  the  shore — the  sea — the  sea — 

So  bright  and  pure  and  varied, — give  to  me  ; 

In  calms  so  smooth  and  lustrous,  and  in  storms 

So  wild  its  motions,  and  so  grand  its  forms, 

Each  moment  wakes  a  new  and  thrilling  grace, 

As  glow  successive  charms  on  beauty's  speaking  face. 

Anon. 

THE  INDIAN  OCEAN  AFTER    A   STORM SCENES    ON  THE    DECK 

OF  A  MERCHANTMAN — CAPE    PIGEONS   AND  ALBATROSSES 

A  WHALE DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    BIRDS    OF  THESE  SEAS 

A    MYSTERIOUS  VISITER — SCENE    BETWEEN  A  MONKEY  AND 

THE  MYSTERIOUS  VISITER STRANGE  APPEARANCE  OF  THE 

SEA  AT  MIDNIGHT. 

i  Our  gallant  little  ship  had  behaved  most  nobly 
throughout  the  late  storm,  and  we  were  now  quietly 
but  quickly  gliding  along  under  all  sail,  impelled  by  one 
of  those  charming  and  comfortable  breezes  that  a  sailor 
loves,  that  keeps  all  full,  tight  as  a  board,  and  steadies 
the  ship,  as  she  divides  the  dark  blue  wave  with  her 
cleaving  bow,  and  scatters  it  aside  in  sheets  of  milk- 
white  foam — hissing,    boiling,   and   effervescing   as   it 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  71 

rushes  past  her  bright  side,  marking  her  track  for  many 
a  long  mile  upon  the  waste  of  waters. 

The  accustomed  duties  of  the  ship  were  renewed,  all 
were  busy  at  their  respective  labours.  The  carpenter, 
a  tall,  raw-boned,  methodical  fellow,  whose  equanimity 
was  never  disturbed  by  calms  or  storms,  had  again 
rigged  out  his  bench,  and  while  whistling  his  favourite 
air,  made  the  ribands  fly  from  his  jack-plane.  The  mate, 
an  old  whaler,  and  as  fine  a  fellow  as  ever  trod  the  deck 
of  a  merchantman,  by  the  name  of  Gardner,  was  scan- 
ning with  critical  eye  the  spars  and  sails  aloft,  occa- 
sionally glancing  at  the  compass,  or  gruffly  demanding 
of  the  helmsman,  "  how's  your  head,  sir?'  to  which 
polite  inquiry,  that  individual  would  reply — not  that  it 
was  better  or  worse,  but  that  his  head  was  "  no'  no'th 
east,  half  east,"  or  the  like,  according  to  the  course  of 
the  ship. 

The  captain,  who  had  never  left  the  deck  during  the 
late  blow,  was  making  up  for  lost  sleep  and  fatigue  in 
his  berth  below,  whilst  my  fellow-passengers  and  self 
were  industriously  engaged  with  hook  and  line,  endea- 
vouring by  these  appliances  to  entice  on  board  some  of 
the  numerous  birds  that  hovered  round  the  vessel. 
Sometimes  these  laudable  efforts  were  rewarded  by  a 
Cape  pigeon,  petrel,  or  albatross,  getting  entangled  in 
the  numerous  lines  dragging  astern.  Great  were  the 
rejoicings  then,  and  cries  of  "  hold  on,"  "  take  care," 
"  haul  in,"  until  we  had  safely  deposited  our  captive  upon 
deck,  when  a  careful  inspection  of  his  plumage  was 
made,  and  a  wondering  where  he  came  from  last,  what 
island  he  inhabited,  and  whether  he  was  married  or 
single,  and  had  left  a  Mrs.  Stormy  Petrel  at  home,  and 


72  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

a  family  of  little  Stormy  Petrels.  Sometimes  the  ques- 
tion would  arise,  whether  we  had  not  got  the  old  woman 
on  board  instead  of  the  gentleman.  We  would  then 
start  him  overboard  again,  troubling  him  or  her  with  a 
line  tied  to  the  feet,  which  would  sometimes  get  entan- 
gled with  some  of  his  aerial  companions,  and  down  they 
would  "  tumble  headlong  into  the  billows  below." 

"  Sail  ho !" — said  a  small  shrill  voice,  as  if  from  the 
clouds. 

This  startling  enunciation  came  from  "  the  boy  Bill," 
— who  had  been  sent  aloft  to  clear  away  one  of  the 
royals, — a  sturdy  little  fellow  and  a  great  pet  on  board, 
and  whose  duty  being  like  his  namesake  of  Black-eyed 
Susan  notoriety,  "  high  on  the  topmast  head  to  climb," 
was  decidedly  the  most  dangerous  on  board. 

"  Where  away  ?"  quickly  responded  Gardner. 

"  Two  points  on  the  starboard  bow,  sir,"  replied  the 
small  voice  from  mid-air. 

Gardner  scanned  the  horizon  with  a  keen  glance,  then 
turning  to  us,  who  were  on  the  tiptoe  of  expectation, 
with  a  smile  and  jocose  air,  cried  out. 

"  You,  sir,  upon  the  fore-royal  there  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir." 

"  What's  her  rig  ?" 

"  Can't  see  her  now,  sir." 

"Look  sharp  dead  to  leeward, you  scamp  you," — and 
then  pointing  to  the  direction  last  spoken  of,  he  said, 
"  there  she  spouts — and  a  first-rate  sperm  it  is.  I  have 
seen  the  time,  old  fellow,"  (soliloquizing  with  his  eyes 
directed  to  the  object,)  "  when  a  dozen  boats  well  manned 
would  have  been  skimming  over  those  waves  to  get  at 
your  blubber." 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  73 

About  two  or  three  miles  off,  a  white  jet  of  spray- 
flew  into  the  air,  resembling  very  much  a  sail  at  a  great, 
distance,  the  next  moment  his  huge  carcass  heaved 
above  the  water,  and  slowly  sunk  from  our  view.  It 
was  a  large  spermaceti  whale,  the  first  we  had  seen, 
though  we  had  now  been  on  shipboard  more  than  two 
months,  and  had  traversed  both  the  Northern  and  South- 
ern Atlantics,  and  part  of  the  Indian  Ocean.  The  birds 
deserted  us  for  this  new  visiter ;  the  track  of  the  whale 
was  indicated  by  the  flock  which  hovered  in  his  wake, 
but  soon  after  one  by  one  they  returned  to  us,  and  re- 
sumed their  eternal  gyrations  and  balancings  round  our 
ship,  occasionally  tipping  the  wave  with  their  ever  un- 
tiring wing,  then  soaring  aloft  and  circling  the  vessel  in 
graceful  and  rapid  sweeps.  Some  of  these  birds  had 
been  so  long  in  company  with  us,  that  the  sailors  had 
nick-named  them.  One  large  black  fellow,  especially, 
who  had  a  feather  out  of  place,  as  if  dangling  by  the 
skin,  was  dubbed  "Old  Quill-driver."  I  invariably  looked 
about  for  him  early  in  the  morning,  and  was  sure  to  see 
him,  and  had  done  so  for  three  weeks  past.  Far,  far  from 
any  land,  do  these  animals  require  no  rest?  have  they 
no  home?  We  made  acquaintance  with  "Quill-driver" 
off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  at  least  three  hundred  miles 
to  the  southward  of  it,  for  we  had  given  the  Cape  "  a 
wide  berth,"  and  now-  we  were  not  far  from  the  coast  of 
New  Holland,  more  than  a  thousand  miles  of  longitude; 
and  there  he  was  sailing  about,  sometimes  ahead,  now 
astern,  then  dropping  into  the  wafer  head  foremost  to 
pick  up  something  that  had  caught  his  eye,  again  upon 
the  wing  as  fresh  as  ever.     Throughout  that  terrible 

6 


74  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

gale  which  had  raged  for  three  days  and  nights,  he  was 
our  constant  companion. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  grandeur  of  the  scene  on  the 
second  day.  Those  magnificent  rollers,  known  only  to 
the  Indian  Ocean,  more  than  a  mile  from  the  summit  of 
one  wave  to  the  other.  At  one  moment  you  are  upon 
the  top  of  a  high  mountain  wave  crested  with  foam,  the 
next,  scudding  along  a  dark  blue  valley,  as  it  were  be- 
calmed, compared  with  the  fury  of  the  wind  which 
howls  through  the  strained  cordage  when  upon  the  sum- 
mit. So  long  as  the  wind  keeps  up,  there  is  not  much 
danger  in  these  seas,  these  immense  waves  seldom 
breaking,  but  a  sudden  calm  would  be  fatal. 

During  the  whole  of  that  storm,  "  Quill-driver"  was 
there,  perfectly  at  home,  skimming  along  the  surface  of 
the  abyss  of  wave,  to  avoid  the  fury  of  the  wind,  occa- 
sionally abandoning  himself  to  the  gale,  as  if  in  sport, 
before  which  he  would  sweep  and  dart  like  an  arrow 
shot  from  a  bowT,  then  wheeling  round  with  quivering 
wing,  stand  as  steadily  before  that  tremendous  blast  as  if 
fixed  to  some  invisible  perch.  The  night  succeeding  a 
dead  calm,  "  Quill-driver"  was  missing,  and  we  never 
laid  eyes  upon  him  again. 

Talking  of  birds,  I  may  here  mention  a  queer  incident 
which  occurred  after  we  had  passed  the  Straits  of 
Sunda,  and  were  in  the  China  Seas.  A  white  bird, 
apparently  with  tired  wing,  fluttered  for  a  moment  round 
the  ship's  head,  and  alighted  upon  the  bowsprit.  It 
suffered  itself  to  be  taken  without  the  slightest  resistance, 
and  was  brought  aft,  apparently  fast  asleep,  and  was 
placed  upon  the  spare  booms  on  the  long-boat,  and  by 
general  consent  remained  there  undisturbed. 


SCENES  AND    INCIDENTS.  75 

There  was  something  so  confiding  in  the  manner  of 
the  visit,  such  apparent  utter  prostration,  the  appeal  was 
irresistible.  The  story  was  told  at  a  glance;  "I  am 
weary  and  sorely  wounded,  all  I  ask  is  rest  for  my  tired 
wing — for  many  days  I've  been  abroad  upon  the  waters, 
and  there  was  no  land." 

His  body  was  a  pure  white,  and  about  the  size  of  a 
tame  pigeon,  but  his  most  striking  feature  was  an  uncon- 
scionable long  and  heavy  bill,  almost  twice  the  length  of 
his  own  body.  The  renowned  and  classic  nose  of 
Slaukenbergius  would  sink  before  it  into  comparative 
insignificance.  So  entirely  disproportionate  to  the  appa- 
rent strength  of  the  proprietor,  it  was  a  wonder  how  it 
could  be  carried  ;  and  for  what  purpose  it  was  applied  by 
the  owner,  remains  an  undeveloped  mystery.  Various 
and  entertaining  were  the  speculations  upon  this  inte- 
resting subject  by  the  bystanders.  In  addition  to  this 
phenomenon,  upon  the  snow-white  breast  of  this 
"  observed  of  all  observers,"  there  were  stains  of  blood, 
fresh  and  as  yet  uncongealed.  Where  did  he  get  that 
wound  1  what  a  bill !  One  drily  suggested  the  proba- 
bility of  his  being  a  collector,  and  that  some  vagabond 
"  albatrosses,"  "  noddies,"  and  dissipated  "  boobies"  had 
been  feathering  their  nests  at  the  expense  of  his 
employer,  and  upon  presentation  of  that  awful  bill,  they 
to  a  man  had  turned  upon  him,  and  by  a  sort  of  Lynch 
law  endeavoured  to  settle  his  account  for  ever. 

The  mate  observed  he  was  "  all  sham,  with  a  heavy 
bill  of  lading  and  no  stowage."  The  carpenter  delibe- 
rately took  out  his  foot  rule,  whistling  the  while,  measured 
it,  gazed  intently  at  it  for  a  moment,  shook  his  head,  and 
was  again   whistling   and  peeling  off  ribbons  with  his 


76  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

jack-plane.  Dreary  and  unpleasant  associations  floated 
into  memory  of  old  tavern  bills  as  yet  unsettled  at  New- 
buryport. 

The  boatswain,  a  tough  old  sea  dog  and  thorough- 
bred sailor  and  man-of-war's-man,  by  the  name  of 
Hanse,  born  at  Philadelphia  near  the  Swedes'  Church, 
and  claiming  to  be  a  descendant  of  the  ancient  Swedes, 
and  for  that  reason  a  particular  favourite  of  mine,  mut- 
tered and  growled  out  something  about  "  a  d d  queer 

rig,  all  bowsprit  and  no  hull."  Upon  being  questioned 
as  to  his  opinion  of  the  matter,  after  replenishing  his  jaws 
with  an  enormous  quid  of  tobacco,  and  hitching  up  his 
trowsers,  he  oracularly  declared  his  opinion  without  any 
qualification  that  "  that  ar  chap  was  broke  down  because 
he  was  too  much  by  the  head ;"  then  suddenly  clapping 
his  hands  to  his  mouth  to  make  a  speaking-trumpet  of 
them,  he  roared  out,  "Bird  ahoy,  bird  ahoy,  I  say  !"  He 
waited  a  moment  or  two,  but  observing  no  indication  on 
the  part  of  him  of  the  bill  to  respond  to  this  delicate  and 
truly  appropriate  application,  turned  to  us,  and  with  a 
melancholy  smile  observed,  "  he's  done  up,"  and  then,  as 
he  rolled  off,  indignantly  and  vehemently  declaimed 
against  "  any  craft's  sailing  under  such  a  trim,  and  such 
a  thundering  marlinspike  fished  on  to  his  forehead."  In 
the  mean  time,  the  tired  stranger  with  the  mysterious 
spot  of  blood  upon  his  snow-white  breast,  and  portentous 
bill,  remained  with  closed  eyes,  apparently  fast  asleep, 
and  perfectly  oblivious  to  all  that  was  passing  around 
him :  and  so  he  remained  during  all  that  day  and  night, 
immovable  and  lifeless  as  a  prepared  specimen  by  an 
ornithologist. 

At  Java  Head,  the  ship    was   surrounded  by   Indian 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  ?7 

canoes  filled  with  fowls,  fruit,  birds,  and  monkeys  ;  every 
man  on  board  had  become  the  proprietor  of  one  or  more 
of  those  last  mentioned  animals:  the  ship  was  thronged 
with  these  vivacious  gentry.  The  inmost  recesses  of 
the  long-boat,  stowed  amidships  and  filled  with  barrels 
and  old  junk,  was  their  grand  retreat,  from  which  they 
occasionally  made  sallies  upon  the  surrounding  districts, 
and  when  hotly  pursued  by  their  foes,  fled  to  these  fast- 
nesses, and  though  poked  at  with  sticks  and  other  formi- 
dable weapons,  yet  seldom  with  any  success. 

Frequent  were  the  complaints  of  Jack,  that  one  of 
these  long-tailed  grinning  land-lubbers  had  run  off  with 
his  knife  or  tobacco-box :  and  many  vain  attempts 
to  force  the  party  to  submission  or  restoration  of  the  pur- 
loined property  by  means  of  those  gentle  appliances 
aforementioned,  accompanied  by  divers  amiable  ejacu- 
lations, in  wThich  the  souls  of  that  particular  monkey  and 
all  other  monkeys,  long-tailed  or  short-tailed,  were  con- 
signed to  everlasting  perdition.  In  the  meantime,  the 
chattering  delinquents  could  be  heard  chuckling  over 
their  spoils,  a  hundred  little  sharp  eyes  peering  out  from 
every  crevice,  and  with  impudent  grins,  hurling  back 
defiance  to  their  adversaries,  in  their  own  peculiar  style 
of  eloquence. 

There  was  one  of  these  depredators  particularly 
remarkable  for  his  boldness,  skill  and  dexterity,  the 
acknowledged  leader  of  the  whole  gang  of  outlaws.  The 
crew  were  all  engaged  forward;  the  steward,  their 
natural  enemy,  was  preparing  his  dishes ;  the  cook,  busy 
at  his  galley,  whilst  the  captain  and  mate  were  intently 
engaged  in  taking  observations.  A  general  silence  pre- 
vailed, occasionally  broken  by  the  flapping  of  the  sails, 


78  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

the  creaking  of  the  rudder  head,  and  the  cry  of"  mark" 
by  the  mate,  to  minute  the  observation  for  the  benefit  of 
the  assistant  party  below  examining  the  chronometer. 
At  this  moment  I  saw  our  vivacious  friend  of  the  long- 
boat emerge  from  his  hiding-place,  and  after  making  a 
careful  survey  of  the  premises,  commence  an  examina- 
tion of  the  person  of  him  of  the  bill.  The  scrutiny  was 
long  and  intense ;  twisting  his  body  into  every  variety  of 
shape,  now  scanning  the  figure  on  one  side,  then  on  the 
other,  then  scratching  his  own  back,  as  if  under  a 
momentary  hesitation  of  what  he  should  be  at  next.  At 
last,  emboldened  perhaps  by  the  apparent  lifelessness  of 
the  object  of  his  scrutiny,  he  thrust  his  queer  little  phiz 
close  to  the  head  of  the  bird  ;  at  this  moment,  not  only  to 
my  astonishment  but  evidently  to  the  amazement  of  pug, 
an  eye  slowly  opened,  and  such  a  piercer  !  concentrating 
its  rays  full  upon  pug,  who  appeared  to  be  fascinated  by 
its  lustre  ;  but  as  the  figure  yet  remained  perfectly  immov- 
able, cunning,  mischief,  or  natural  audacity  got  the  better 
of  any  awe  which  that  eye  may  have  inspired,  and  he 
commenced  a  very  unceremonious  assault,  first  upon  the 
bill,  then  the  legs  ;  then  observing  the  blood  upon  the 
breast,  he  proceeded  with  great  professional  skill  to 
inspect-  the  wound,  when  the  awful  bill  was  slowly  raised 
on  high,  and  descended  slap  upon  the  back  of  the  officious 
examiner,  with  the  force  of  a  pick-axe,  accompanied 
by  a  shrill  scream,  which  startled  every  one  on  board. 
Pug  lay  stretched  out  as  if  struck  dead;  whilst  the 
mysterious  operator  spread  his  wings,  soared  aloft, 
wheeled  off  to  leeward,  for  a  while  visible  like  a  white 
speck  upon  the  blue  expanse,  and  then  faded  from  our 
view  for  ever.     But  long  ere  this  the  monkey  had  reco- 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  79 

vered  from  the  first  shock ;  and  was  writhing  about  in 
an  agony  of  fright  and  pain,  screaming  and  chattering, 
and  tumbling  over  head  and  heels,  under  the  impression, 
no  doubt,  that  the  glaring  eye  was  watching  the  chance, 
with  uplifted  beak,  to  give  the  coup-de-grace  to  his 
small  existence.  Finally  he  scuttled  off  to  his  retreat, 
and  did  not  show  his  face  for  several  days;  but  ever 
after,  when  capering  about  or  engaged  in  some  mis- 
chief, an  imitation  by  any  one  of  that  awful  scream 
uttered  by  the  mysterious  stranger  when  he  planted 
the  bill  into  his  back,  caused  the  little  fellow  to  make 
all  sorts  of  grimaces  expressive  of  disgust  and  terror, 
and  away  he'd  scuttle  to  the  hiding-place. 

The  incident  I  have  related  was  a  delightful  episode 
in  our  monotonous  life.  And  though  a  small  matter,  yet 
none  but  he  who  has  been  confined  on  board  a  ship  for 
some  months,  and  the  greater  part  of  that  time  out  of 
sight  of  land,  can  truly  appreciate  its  value. 

We  had  all  retired  to  our  respective  berths,  and  I  was 
dreaming  of  home  and  my  mother's  cheerful  fireside, 
when  I  was  suddenly  awakened  by  an  unusual  tramping 
over  head.  Coils  of  ropes  as  if  hurriedly  cast  off  from 
the  pins  by  the  sailors,  clattered  upon  the  deck.  The 
ship,  too,  had  altered  her  course,  and  evidently  was 
under  easy  sail,  gently  rolling  from  side  to  side.  I  con- 
cluded a  squall  was  coming  up  ;  for  we  had  now  become 
familiarized  to  almost  every  manoeuvre,  and  could  tell 
the  meaning  of  any  movement  on  the  deck  in  the  night; 
yet  I  recollected  how  perfectly  clear  was  the  atmosphere 
when  we  went  below,  without  the  slightest  indication  of 
a  squall  or  even  a  change  of  wind.    I  was  about  to  turn 


80  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

myself  again  to  sleep,  when  I  heard  the  mate  say,  "How's 
your  head  now,"  and  the  answer  of  the  helmsman.  A 
silence  prevailed  for  a  few  moments,  which  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  voice  of  the  captain  crying  out,  "  Heave 
again  I"  The  next  moment  I  heard  the  lead  plunge  into 
the  sea ;  I  leaped  out  of  my  berth  ;  the  cabin  was  illumi- 
nated by  the  reflection  of  a  pale  light  through  the  cabin 
windows.  Upon  reaching  the  deck,  imagine  my  asto- 
nishment at  finding  every  thing  in  disorder;  the  ropes  ah 
cast  off  and  strewn  upon  the  deck,  the  maintopsail 
aback,  and  the  lower  sails  clued  up ;  the  ship  was 
stationary,  whilst  the  captain  and  mate  were  standing  on 
the  bulwarks  gazing  upon  the  sea  ;  which  was  as  white 
as  the  purest  milk.* 

"  What  the  d 1  is  it?"  said  one;  "  there  was  no 

bottom  with  two  hundred  fathoms."  It  had  the  strangest 
and  most  unnatural  appearance,  and  created  those  in- 
describable sensations  one  always  feels  on  suddenly  be- 
holding an  object  entirely  out  of  our  preconceived  no- 
tions of  the  order  of  nature. 

As  far  as  the  eye  could  stretch,  from  the  mast-head, 
this  unnatural  appearance  extended.  Accustomed  as 
we  had  been  for  months,  to  the  dark  blue  ocean,  the 
effect  was  startling  and  impressive  ;  it  was  strange  and 
unaccountable.  In  vain  did  we  perplex  ourselves  with 
a  solution  of  the  mystery.  The  atmosphere  was  un- 
clouded, the  magnificent  constellation  of  the  cross  spar- 
kled with  its  usual  brilliancy,  beside  its   strange  dusky 

*  Since  the  publication  of  the  above,  the  author  has  been  informed  by 

Captain  R ,  a  veteran  and  skilful  China  trader,  and  who  has  made  a 

dozen  voyages  from  Philadelphia  to  Canton,  that  more  than  once  he  has 
witnessed  the  same  phenomena. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  81 

companion,  the  cloud  of  Magellan.  All  was  as  usual, 
except  the  sea ;  we  were  sailing  in  an  ocean  of  milk  as 
white  as  a  field  of  snow.  This  phenomenon  continued 
for  nearly  an  hour,  when  we  passed  out  of  it,  the  sea 
resumed  its  usual  colour,  and  we  were  again  upon  our 
course.  The  oldest  sailor  on  board  had  never  seen 
the  like  ;  it  remains  unaccounted  for.  I  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  fill  a  bucket  with  some  of  the  water;  but 
upon  examining  it  next  morning,  I  could  perceive  no 
difference  between  that  and  the  ordinary  sea  water. 

Afterwards,  at  Canton,  when  dining  in  company  with 
the  celebrated  Captain  Ross,  this  circumstance  was 
mentioned ;  he  said  he  had  seen  something  of  the  same 
kind  once  himself,  and  thought  as  we  did  that  he  was 
on  a  white  sand  bank,  but  that  he  could  get  no  bottom 
with  several  hundred  of  fathoms.  Be  it  what  it  may,  I 
never  shall  forget  the  appearance  of  the  sea  that  night, 
and  the  strange  undefinable  feelings  it  inspired. 


PART  II. 

Land  ho !  the  watchful  topman  cries  aloud, 

Land  ho  !  re-echoes  back  the  eager  crowd  ; 

All  spring  aloft,  with  keen  inquiring  eye 

To  mark  where  ocean  mingles  with  the  sky — 

At  first  it  seems  a  faint,  uncertain  haze, 

That  mocks  the  sight — then  meets  the  eager  gaze — 

Retires,  returns,  until  a  nearer  view 

Reveals  an  outline  of  unvaried  blue. 

St.  Helena. 

SUNRISE  AT  SEA — LAND  HO  ! DESCRIPTION  OF  A  SHIP  UNDER 

FULL    SAIL,    AND    A    SPANKING     BREEZE — SEA     SICKNESS 

THE    COAST    OF    JAVA  —  MISTAKE    WINDROW    BAY    FOR    THE 

STRAITS  OF  SUNDA ESCAPE  SHIPWRECK MALAY  PROAS 

MASSACRE  OF  THE  NATIVES  BY  AN  ARMED  BARQUE. 

Upon  approaching  any  of  the  numerous  islands,  how 
anxiously  did  we  inspect  the  chart  for  its  precise  posi- 
tion, and  examine  every  book  in  our  possession  which 
treated  of  the  navigation  of  this  part  of  the  globe,  for 
any  description  of  the  interesting  spot.  At  dawn  of 
day  I  was  upon  deck  ;  the  gallant  Rosalie  was  cleaving 
her  way  under  a  spanking  breeze.  The  atmosphere 
was  as  clear  as  crystal;  Aurora  had  tinged  the  eastern 
horizon  with  a  soft  mellow  light,  which  was  beautifully 
contrasted  with  the  dark  blue  sea,  gemmed  with  innu- 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  83 

merable  jets  of  milk-white  foam,  that  crested  every 
wave.  Suddenly  a  bright  ray  streamed  up  almost  to 
the  zenith ;  star  after  star  gradually  faded  away ;  from  a 
soft  yellow,  the  east  was  deepened  to  a  bright  orange, 
and  the  god  of  day  leaped  forth  from  the  bosom  of  the 
ocean,  gilding  the  summit  of  every  glad  wave  that 
danced  and  sparkled  and  clapped  their  hands  with  joy. 

Who  is  there  of  God's  creatures,  at  such  a  moment, 
that  would  not  bow  down  and  inwardly  adore  his  Crea- 
tor? and  what  heart  would  not  beat  in  fervent  acknow- 
ledgment of  His  glory  1  I  felt  it  all,  and  mutely  bowed 
before  that  magnificent  shrine.  But  mine  was  a  season 
when  no  one  impression  long  chained  the  attention. 
With  what  unalloyed  enjoyment  did  I  then  gaze  upon 
the  thousand  novelties  that  daily  occurred  and  delighted 
me.  Full  of  youth,  spirit  and  animation,  my  blood 
coursed  through  my  veins  with  healthful  rapidity.  The 
elasticity  of  limb  had  not  yet  been  crippled  by  disease, 
nor  my  heart  and  mind  seared  by  affliction  ;  every  thing 
was  couleur  de  rose.  I  was  neither  burthened  with  the 
cares  of  life,  nor  oppressed  with  gloomy  thoughts  of 
provision  for  the  future. 

Frank  and  manly  in  the  expression  of  every  feeling, 
I  imagined  all  to  be  governed  by  the  same  impulse.  It 
was  not  till  late  in  after  life,  experience  and  closer  con- 
tact with  the  busy  world  dispelled  those  illusions.  O, 
happy  days  of  youth  !  with  what  melancholy  pleasure  do 
I  now  review  thy  joyous  existence. 

"  Land  ho  '."—said  a  voice  from  the  fore-topgallant 
mast-head. 

"  Where  away  V9  shouted  Gardner. 

"Two  points  upon  starboard  bow,  sir." 


84  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

"High  or  low  land?' 

"  It  looms  high,  sir." 

"  That's  it,"  said  the  mate ;  and  as  he  came  aft  trium- 
phantly exclaimed,  "  Huzza  for  my  Lunar  against  all  the 
chronometers  in  the  world." 

In  vain  did  I  scan  the  horizon  in  the  direction  in- 
dicated ;  I  could  see  nothing  like  land,  nothing  but  a  small 
white  cloud  or  two  at  a  great  distance ;  and  what  did  the 
fellow  mean  by  saying  "  it  loomed  high  V 

"You  won't  see  it  for  two  hours  yet,"  said  Gardner, 
clapping  his  hand  upon  my  shoulder ;  "  those  clouds  are 
land  clouds  though  ;  look  at  them  well,  that  you  may 
know  them  again ;  we  sailors  can  distinguish  them  at  a 
glance." 

I  hurried  down  the  companion-way,  and  found  my 
fellow-passengers,  and  Captain  M.,  commander  of  the 
Rosalie, — as  fine  a  seaman  as  ever  sailed  on  board  a 
merchantman,  and  as  kind  and  good  as  skilful, — all  busy 
with  chart  and  compass.  Again  we  were  upon  deck; 
something  to  disturb  the  monotony  of  the  voyage  was 
about  to  occur,  beyond  the  usual  daily  incidents ;  some- 
thing to  look  at  and  talk  of  besides  the  winds  and 
waves. 

I  thought  I  could  perceive,  after  intently  gazing  upon 
the  horizon,  something  that  bore  the  semblance  of  a  faint 
blue  cloud  ;  then  it  would  vanish,  again  reappear,  but 
nothing  definable. 

I  climbed  the  bowsprit,  and  amused  myself  with  look- 
ing back  upon  our  gallant  craft  as  she  gracefully  rose 
upon  the  swell,  rearing  her  bright  prow  high  above  the 
water  as  if  to  spring  over  the  wave,  then  plunging  deep 
into  the  brine,  ploughing  it  aside  in  a  cataract  of  foam. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  85 

Upon  the  bowsprit  of  a  fine  ship,  with  every  sail  draw- 
ing, it  is  a  gallant  sight  to  observe  her  motions,  as  she 
divides  the  opposing  fluid.  There  is  something  so  in- 
vigorating in  the  bounding  motion  of  the  vessel  as  she 
springs  beneath  you  like  an  impatient  steed,  something 
so  soothing  also,  in  the  unceasing  roar  of  the  torrent ;  a 
conviction  that  you  are  rapidly  progressing  on  your 
journey,  which  from  any  other  part  of  the  ship  is  not  so 
perceptible.  But  to  enjoy  this,  the  passenger  must  be 
familiarized  to  the  sea.  He  must  have  passed  through 
all  the  horrid  ordeals  a  landsman  invariably  suffers,  and 
almost  forget  the  feel  of  terra  firma.  Mine  was  a  severe 
one  :  twenty  days'  sea-sickness  without  the  ability  to 
swallow  any  thing  but  soup,  whilst  the  mates  and  cap- 
tain were  devouring  pounds  of  beef  and  pork  with  the 
most  disgusting  self-complacency.  I  looked  upon  them 
as  so  many  cannibals  ;  all  this  too,  with  no  sort  of  sym- 
pathy for  your  sufferings  ;  on  the  contrary,  your  agony 
is  to  them  a  source  of  amusement.  There  is  but  one 
being  to  whom  you  can  confide  your  miseries,  to  whom 
you  can  call  for  aid,  and  that  is  the  steward — you  are 
again  in  all  the  imbecility  of  childhood,  "  mewling  and 
puking  in  the  nurse's  arms  ;"  you  cry  to  him  and  for 
him,  day  and  night — he  is  your  only  friend.  I  never 
heard  that  he  ever  had  any  other  name.  I  believe  he  was 
born  on  board  ship  and  christened  Steward.  Even  he, 
kind-hearted  fellow  as  he  was,  would  sometimes  nearly 
throw  me  into  convulsions  with  some  well-meant  but 
horrid  suggestions  about  the  propriety  of  tasting  a  leetle 
lobscouse,  or  sea  pie,  which  proposition  had  the  same 
effect  upon  me,  that  I  should  suppose  the  offer  of  a 
tumbler  of  water  would  have  upon  the  nervous  system 


86  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

of  a  patient  in  the  last  stages  of  hydrophobia.  All  this 
you  must  pass  through  and  more ;  you  will  detest  the 
sight  of  the  sea,  and  yet  be  compelled  fifty  times  a  day, 
horridly  to  gape  over  the  ship's  side,  with  straining  eyes, 
at  its  undulating  surface,  which  looks  like  an  unfathom- 
able dose  of  salts  and  soda.  It  is  a  sensation  which 
cannot  be  described  ;  such  a  total  prostration  of  strength, 
such  collapsing,  sinking,  and  turning  inside  out,  like  a 
damp  kid  glove :  there  is  but  one  feeling  of  intense 
misery,  and  I  really  believe  that  if  they  had  told  me  the 
ship  was  foundering  upon  a  rock,  I  should  have  rejoiced 
at  the  prospect  of  her  being  still,  at  all  events,  for  a  few 
moments  before  I  expired. 

After  you  have  been  long  at  sea,  there  is  a  strange 
undefinable  fear  upon  approaching  land,  especially  in 
remote  regions,  only  occasionally  visited  by  the  enter- 
prising navigator  on  his  way  to  some  commercial  mart. 
In  the  broad  ocean,  a  sailor  is  always  ready  for  a  conflict 
with  wind  or  wave.  He  there  relies  upon  the  faith  of 
his  nautical  skill  and  the  powers  of  his  ship ;  but  what 
sunken  rocks  and  yet  unexplored  shoals,  may  not  lay 
treacherously  in  his  path  upon  an  unfrequented  coast ! 
Such  were  my  feelings  upon  approaching  the  great  Asiatic 
Archipelago,  and  I  believe  the  like  sensations  existed, 
though  not  expressed,  in  the  hearts  of  all  on  board.  The 
land  was  now  clearly  visible  to  my  inexperienced  eye — 
an  undulating  line  of  mountain  peaks  and  rounded  hills. 
With  what  delight  did  I  gaze  upon  it — the  first  view  to 
me  of  a  new  world.  How  I  should  love  to  traverse  those 
shores,  scale  the  mountain-side,  and  penetrate  the  solitary 
glen,  where  nature  in  all  her  primeval  beauty  reigns  in 
solitary  grandeur,  as  yet  untrodden  by  the  foot  of  man. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  87 

The  most  uninteresting  coast  in  the  world,  in  point  of 
scenery,  is  that  of  North  America.  Upon  approaching 
it  any  where  between  Maine  and  Florida,  the  trees  are 
the  first  objects  that  are  seen.  If  it  were  not  for  the  re- 
gularity of  the  soundings,  the  approach  would  be  ex- 
ceedingly dangerous.  The  coast  of  South  America,  with 
its  magnificent  mountains,  twelve  thousand  feet  high, 
rising  at  once  from  the  bosom  of  the  ocean,  can  be  seen 
by  the  approaching  navigator  at  a  great  distance.  So 
it  is  also  upon  the  coast  of  all  the  islands  of  the  Sunda 
group.  Java,  which  we  were  now  approaching,  is  one 
of  the  most  magnificent  islands  in  respect  to  scenery  in 
the  world.  The  mountains  are  clothed  to  the  summits 
with  the  richest  vegetation,  which  descend  sometimes  to 
the  water's  edge.  Groves  of  gigantic  palms,  the  pal- 
metto, and  the  graceful  cocoa,  wave  their  branches  over 
the  sea  that  bathes  their  trunks. 

A  heavy  long  swell  now  was  setting  in  towards  the 
shore  from  the  Indian  Ocean,  thundering  amongst  the 
rocks,  leaping  up  the  craggy  precipice,  and  pouring 
down  its  sides  in  a  perfect  cataract  of  milk-white  froth 
and  foam.  The  trees  bent  and  bowed  to  the  retiring 
flood  and  sprung  again  to  their  upright  position,  again  to 
be  threatened  by  the  succeeding  roller.  Every  point 
and  cape,  and  inlet,  teemed  with  interest,  and  presented 
every  variety  of  form,  changing  with  the  advancing  mo- 
tion of  the  vessel.  Far  above  us,  capped  with  clouds, 
was  a  magnificent  mountain,  frowning  in  gloomy  gran- 
deur upon  the  scene.  As  we  passed  a  point  of  land, 
a  waterfall  burst  upon  our  view — a  mountain  torrent 
leaping  from  a  precipice  of  dark  rock,  prone  into  the 
sea  ;  we  clapped  our  hands  with  ecstasy.     It  was  all 


88  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

that  was  wanted  to  give  a  finish  to  the  magnificent  pros- 
pect, ft  was  a  scene  of  perfect  enchantment.  I  was 
wrapped  in  wonder  and  delight  :  it  was  worth  travelling 
ten  thousand  thousand  miles  to  see.  At  this  moment 
my  attention  was  attracted  to  the  officers  of  the  ship, 
who  appeared  to  be  in  doubt  and  uncertainty. 

"  Mr.  Gardner,"  cried  the  captain,  who  was  pacing 
with  hurried  and  uneasy  step  the  quarter-deck,  "you 
have  been  here  before?" 

"Yes,  sir — once  in  the  William  White,  and  once  in 
the  Tea  Plant." 

"  Which  do  you  call  the  Friar's  Rock,  and  which  the 
Cap?" 

"  There's  the  Friar  to  the  right,"  pointing  to  a  huge 
rock,  that  looked  like  a  colossal  monk  in  full  canonicals; 
"you  can  run  within  biscuit's  throw  of  it.  There's  the 
entrance  to  the  straits."  We  passed  the  point,  and  swept 
into  a  bay  ;  the  water  suddenly  became  green  as  grass; 
a  large  yellow  and  green  speckled  snake  was  lazily  float- 
ing by  the  ship,  but  ere  I  could  cry  "  look  there  !"  within 
twenty  yards  of  our  starboard  bow,  an  immense  dark 
rock  heaved  into  sight:  the  water  poured  off  of  its  slip- 
pery surface, — a  coming  roller  engulfed  it  from  our  view. 
We  were  now  becalmed,  and  the  ship  rolled  regardless 
of  the  helm.  A  current  was  evidently  rapidly  setting 
into  this  bay.  The  surf,  which  was  not  more  than  three 
cable-lengths  from  the  ship,  pealed  upon  the  beach  with 
the  roar  of  thunder. 

Every  one  was  now  alive  to  the  impending  danger. 
"  Hard  a  port,  with  your  helm,  sir  ! — hard  up,  I  say," 
cried  the  captain.  "Clear  away  the  anchor — move — 
jump,  I  say — get  out  a   boat — clew  down  the  jib — let 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  89 

fall  the  spanker,"  and  many  other  commands  were  ut- 
tered in  quick  succession.  At  this  moment,  as  if  from 
a  rift  in  the  mountain,  a  stiff  breeze  whistled  through  the 
cordage.  "  Brace  round  those  yards  !  hold  on  to  every 
thing  !"  The  Rosalie  whirled  round  before  the  blast  and 
scud  before  it  in  the  same  direction  she  had  entered — 
wTe  were  again  in  deep  water,  and  escaped  from  an  im- 
minent peril.  We  had  mistaken  Winrow  Bay  for  the 
Straits  of  Sunda,  which  has  all  the  appearance  of  the 
entrance  to  the  Straits,  and  would  deceive  any  one. 
When  we  afterwards  entered  the  Straits  I  was  parti- 
cularly struck  with  the  similarity  of  the  land  marks. 
But  I  never  shall  forget  that  awful  grim  rock  that  took 
a  peep  at  the  Rosalie  en  passant,  nor  the  thundering  of 
that  terrific  surf. 

The  scenery  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Java  is  indescri- 
bably beautiful ;  but  the  prospect  of  having  your  ship's 
bottom  stove  in  by  a  huge  rock,  or  of  your  bones  whiten- 
ing those  shores,  or  of  their  being  made  into  drum-sticks 
or  fish-spears  by  some  amiable  Malay,  is  quite  another 
thing  to  talk  about. 

Flocks  of  tropic  birds  of  every  variety  now  flew  over 
the  ship  ;  thousands  of  parrots  and  parroquets  winged 
their  way  to  some  lonely  isle,  chattering  and  screaming, 
perhaps  with  surprise,  as  they  passed  over  our  heads. 
Now  and  then  a  beautiful  little  land  bird  would  rest  his 
tired  wing  upon  the  spars,  and  again  make  for  his  spicy 
groves,  from  which  he  had  perhaps  been  torn  by  some 
rude  blast.  The  air  was  perfumed  with  a  spicy  odour. 
The  gentle  breeze  that  fanned  our  sails  had  no  doubt 
passed  over  many  a  sweet  and  leafy  bower,  or  had  rustled 
through  the  lair  of  the  tiger.     Under  its  gentle  influence 

7 


90  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

we  slowly  wended  our  way  northward,  perfectly  satis- 
fied with  our  view  of  the  interior  of  Winrow  Bay,  and 
with  no  desire  to  revisit  its  uncivilized  shores. 

We  here  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  for  the  first 
time  one  of  those  far-famed  and  wonderful  boats,  a  Ma- 
lay prowa,  sailing  "  dead  into  the  wind's  eye" — a  long 
lateen  sail,  made  of  matting,  almost  as  big  as  a  ship's 
main-topsail,  rigged  to  a  stump  mast  and  supported  by 
a  long  bamboo  yard.  One  side  of  this  craft  is  perfectly 
flat,  like  a  boat  cut  in  two  from  stem  to  stern ;  it  is  pre- 
vented from  capsizing  by  an  out-rigger  of  some  very 
buoyant  material  of  equal  length  with  the  boat :  the  speed 
with  which  these  boats  skim  over  the  water,  is  truly 
wonderful.  With  the  aid  of  a  telescope  we  could  see 
some  grim-looking  fellows  sitting  in  a  row  to  windward, 
watching  the  motions  of  our  vessel — they  soon  run  out 
of  sight.  They  are  represented  to  be  a  very  treacherous 
people,  and  frequent  conflicts  occur  between  them  and 
our  traders  in  pepper,  upon  the  adjoining  coast  of  Su- 
matra; but  if  the  story  be  true  that  was  told  to  me  of 
the  conduct  of  one  of  my  countrymen,  they  are  perfectly 
excusable  in  wreaking  their  vengeance  upon  us  when- 
ever they  can  do  so  with  impunity.  A  certain  captain 
commanding  an  armed  barque,  whilst  sailing  along  the 
coast  of  Sumatra  observed  several  hundred  of  the  natives, 
men,  women  and  children,  spearing  fish,  upon  a  shoal 
that  run  out  into  the  sea :  he  luffed  up  to  writhin  a  hun- 
dred yards  of  them,  and  in  mere  wantonness,  poured  into 
the  harmless  and  unoffending  group,  a  broadside  of  grape 
and  canister  shot,  dyeing  the  sea  with  their  blood.  If 
this  story  be  true,  the  animosity  of  these  people  towards 
our  traders  is  easily  accounted  for,  and  any  retaliation 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  91 

perfectly  justifiable;  but  the  spirit  of  vengeance  which 
appears  to  animate  these  people  against  all  foreigners  may 
with  more  likelihood  be  attributable  to  a  terrible  slaughter 
of  their  countrymen,  which  we  will  have  occasion  to 
narrate  hereafter. 

Having  now  run  up  to  the  latitude  of  the  Straits  of 
Sunda,  the  ship  was  hove  to  for  the  night,  that  we  might 
make  the  passage  by  daylight.  I  turned  into  my  berth, 
and  was  soon  dreaming  of  rocks  and  speckled  snakes, 
Malay  provvas  and  spicy  groves,  jumbled  together  in  all 
sorts  of  wild  fanciful  forms. 


PART    III. 

Master.  Boatswain! 
Boatswain.  Here,  master :  what  cheer? 

Master.  Good.  Speak  to  the  mariners :  fall  to't  yarely,  or  we  run 
ourselves  a-ground — lester,  lester ! 

Tempest. 

"  No  more  they  shrieked  their  horror,  boom  for  boom  ; 
The  strife  was  done,  the  vanquish'd  had  their  doom." 

ENTRANCE    TO    THE    STRAITS  OF  SUNDA THE    FRIAR  ROCK 

PRINCE'S    ISLAND — WARLIKE    EQUIPMENTS    AND    PREPARA- 
TIONS   FOR    DEFENCE AMUSING     SCENES     ON     DECK THE 

STEWARD      AND     CONVERSATION     WITH      THAT     WORTHY 

ANGEIR      POINT      AND      ANCHORAGE CAP      ISLAND THE 

WRECK  OF  THE  PEKIN. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  watch,  the  ship  had  shaped 
her  course  for  the  Straits  of  Sunda.  At  dawn  of  day 
the  land,  which  had  faded  from  our  view  the  preceding 
night,  again  loomed  above  the  eastern  horizon,  dis- 
playing a  long  line  of  coast  of  every  variety  of  form, 
from  the  conical-shaped  hill,  the  peaceful  undulating 
vale,  to  the  towering  mountain  capped  with  clouds,  upon 
whose  summit 

"  Thunder  holds  her  black  tremendous  throne." 

As  yet,  distance  had  spread  a  veil  over  the  landscape, 
which  was  slowly  lifting  as  we  advanced  under  the 
impulse  of  a  steady  western  monsoon. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  93 

From  the  azure  obscurity,  objects  were  gradually 
shadowed  forth  into  every  variety  of  tint  and  colour. 
The  mountain's  base,  still  sombre  and  Claude-like,  was 
beautifully  contrasted  with  the  bright  summit  tipt  by  the 
first  rays  of  the  morning  sun. 

Whilst  I  was  contemplating  this  novel  scene  with  the 
eye  of  a  tourist,  the  officers  of  the  ship  were  busy  com- 
paring every  jutting  cape  and  promontory  and  landmark 
with  the  chart  spread  before  them. 

The  Friar,*  with  cowl  and  gown,  stood  beside  the 
magnificent  portals  to  the  Oriental  world.  I  gazed  upon 
that  gloomy  monument,  bronzed  by  the  hand  of  time, 
and  worn  by  the  wave  that  for  centuries  had  washed  its 
feet ;  beneath  whose  shadow  Vasco  de  Gama  had 
passed  in  doubt  and  uncertainty,  bearing  aloft  that 
sacred  emblem,  as  yet  to  triumph  over  the  barbaric 
empires  of  the  East.  The  heraldic  banners  of  many 
kingdoms  now  crumbled  into  decay,  had  passed  in 
review  before  this  solitary  sentinel  upon  his  outpost.  A 
grim  smile  might  be  fancied  to  illume  his  features,  now 
gilded  by  the  slanting  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  as  the  con- 
stellation of  a  new  world  upon  its  azure  field,  waved 
from  the  peak  of  the  adventurous  craft  that  glided  past 
him.  With  a  strong  breeze,  aided  by  a  current,  we 
swept  by  the  numerous  headlands,  and  many  a  rock 
heaved  up  from  the  bosom  of  the  ocean,  by  invisible 
myriads  of  submarine  architects,  and  hewn  into  the 
grotesque  by  the  attrition  of  the  wave.  All  the  senses 
were  freshened  and  invigorated  by  this  proximity  to  the 
land, 

*  A  remarkable  rock,  about  eighty  feet  in  height,  resembling  a  friar 
in  full  canonicals.— Marsden. 


94  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

"  A  delicious  odour  profusely  breathing  from  the  spicy  groves," 

whilst  the  everlasting  verdure  of  the  hills,  with  a  back- 
ground of  purple  mountains  rising,  "  stage  on  stage,"  far 
above  the  fleecy  clouds,  softened  the  eye,  so  long 
accustomed  to  the  monotony  of  a  boundless  prospect. 

We  were  fairly  within  the  Straits — and  had  passed  the 
gates.  For  a  moment  an  indescribable  sadness  came 
upon  my  spirit,  but  a  passing  shadow  like  that  which 
yon  white  wreath  of  mist  casts  upon  the  bright  and 
ever-changing  landscape.  Visions  of  home  and  of  my 
mother, — more  than  half  the  waters  of  a  convex  world 
between  us.  Shall  I  ever  repass  these  portals  ?  or,  have 
they  closed  upon  me  and  my  native  land  for  ever  1 

To  our  left  was  Prince's  Island,  with  a  terrible  reef  of 
coral  rocks,  upon  which  the  last  of  the  waves  of  the 
Indian  Ocean  were  spending  their  fury.  For  a  short 
time  after  we  entered  the  passage,  we  still  felt  the  influx 
of  those  swells,  but  they  soon  subsided,  and  were,  for 
the  first  time  for  many,  many  days,  upon  a  steady  keel, 
with  hardly  any  perceptible  motion. 

All  hands  were  busy  getting  up  our  warlike  equip- 
ment— tricing  up  a  hammock-netting  to  the  rigging — 
grinding  cutlasses,  cleaning  pistols,  and  arranging  pikes 
around  the  mast  and  spanker-boom.  At  that  time, 
vessels  had  frequently  been  attacked  by  piratical  Malay 
prowers,  and  upon  several  occasions  a  whole  ship's 
crew  had  fallen  victims,  slaughtered  by  these  desperate 
marauders.  Amongst  the  green  islands,  that  lined  the 
eastern  shores,  the  dark  sails  of  their  wonderful  craft 
were  seen  darting  past  the  trees,  and  running  to  wind- 
ward with  that  surprising  facility  possessed   by  none 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  95 

other  sailing  vessels,  and  for  which  and  their  miraculous 
speed,  they  are  called  by  seamen  "  Flying  Prowers." 

I  could  not  but  smile  upon  our  formidable  armament, 
consisting  of  four  guns,  two  of  them  fashioned  out  of  an 
old  spar  by  the  ingenuity  of  the  carpenter,  the  other  twTo 
a  sort  of  nondescript  species  of  dwarf  ordnance,  making 
up  for  a  deficiency  in  length  by  a  proportionally  lateral 
extension,  called  carronades,  in  compliment,  I  suppose,  to 
"  that  grim  ferryman  that  poets  write  of."  They  were 
awful  little  fat  apoplectic  unwieldy  fellows,  with  huge 
gaping  mouths,  down  which  you  could  look  into  the 
very  pit  of  their  stomachs,  now  empty,  but  to  be 
crammed  with  the  most  indigestible,  though  highly 
seasoned  matter  imaginable. 

After  much  toiling  and  rolling  about,  and  holding  on 
to  their  stump  tails,  for  these  creatures  had  stump  tails, 
and  much  affectionate  handling  by  the  boatswain  and 
his  assistants,  they  were  finally  deposited  quite  comfort- 
ably at  the  port-holes,  out  of  which  they  stared  with 
open  mouths  at  the  prospect. 

"  That's  a  young  'un,"  said  old  Hanse,  shaking  his 
head  pensively,  "  but  awful  spiteful  little  fellows.  You 
can  stick  a  great  deal  into  them  little  chaps,  and  just 
tickle  his  tail  with  a  red-hot  poker,  and  he'll  sneeze  like 
thunder.  We  had  bigger  fellows  than  these  on  board 
*  Old  Ironsides,'  but  of  the  same  breed,  sir.  They  will 
take  any  thing  that  comes  handy,"  continued  he,  address- 
ing the  bystanders,  "  a  round-shot,  two  stand  of  grape,  a 
marlinspike  and  a  pump-chain — " 

"  Yes !"  said  the  carpenter,  who  was  whistling  his 
favourite  tune  with  a  business-like  air,  and  with  his  foot- 
rule  thrust  into  the  gaping  mouth  of  the  object  of  the 


96  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

general  attention — "  Yes  !"  said  he,  raising  himself  to  his 
full  height,  and  regarding  Hanse  reproachfully — "  You 
fellows  forrad  there  upon  the  spar-deck  were  sky-lark- 
ing all  the  action,  and  wasting  public  property ;  I  heard 
of  yer — a  heaving  pump-chains  into  Bull ;  you  ought  to 
be  ashamed  of  yourselves." 

"  Were  you  there  too,  carpenter  ?"  said  I,  becoming 
somewhat  interested  in  the  conversation.  He  nodded  his 
head  affirmatively. 

"  We  were  all  there,  except  Robinson,  him  that  we 
ducked  crossing  the  line." 

I  afterwards  heard  that  the  crew  were  all  old  man-of- 
war's  men,  and  first-rate  sailors. 

"  Cook  !"  cried  Gardner,  "  Cook  !" — that  greasy  func- 
tionary's head  slowly  protruded  from  his  smoky  domicile 
— "  heat  a  poker" — the  head  vanished,  and  so  did  the 
mate,  soon  reappearing,  however,  from  below  with 
ammunition,  some  of  that  indigestible  food  before  spoken 
of,  which  they  proceeded  to  cram,  with  much  jamming 
and  poking  and  hammering  with  mallets,  down  the 
throat  of  the  passive  recipients.  And  now  he  of  the 
caboose  was  summoned  to  bring  forth  the  tickler,  which 
was  clutched  by  the  old  sailor,  a  mischievous  expression 
hovering  round  the  corners  of  his  eyes  and  mouth,  such 
as  would  light  up  the  face  of  an  overgrown  schoolboy 
about  to  perpetrate  some  joke. 

"  But  hold  on  a  moment,  Hanse,"  cried  the  mate, 
"  you've  stuffed  too  much  in  this  chap,  it's  half  out  of  the 
muzzle." 

The  carpenter  leaned  over  the  bulwarks,  took  a  sly 
glance  at  the  subject  of  the  last  remark,  then  screwing 
his  mouth  on  one  side  with  a  corresponding  depression 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  97 

of  that  eye,  sticking  his  tongue  at  the  same  time  into 
the  hollow  of  his  cheek,  he  slowly  walked  off,  chuckling 
and  wagging  his  head  from  side  to  side,  as  if  he  had 
heard  or  seen  some  exquisite  joke  that  required  his 
privacy  for  the  full  enjoyment. 

"  Bless  your  heart,  sir,"  said  Hanse,  "  they're  used  to 
it,  them  fellows  is,"  and  then  confidently,  "  he'll  sneeze 
it  out.  Shall  I  tickle  his  touch-hole  before  this  poker 
get's  cold  1M 

"  Go  ahead,  and  be  d — d  to  you  !"  which  figurative 
addition  to  the  order  was  properly  appreciated  by  Jack, 
rather  as  a  compliment  than  any  malicious  intent  on  the 
part  of  the  speaker  to  consign  his  soul  to  any  future  tor- 
ments, viewed  in  the  same  light  as  Othello's 

"  Perdition  catch  my  soul  but  I  do  love  thee  !" — 

the  same  idea  expressed  by  a  sailor  would  not  appear 
quite  so  poetical.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  words  had  no 
sooner  passed  his  lips,  when  slap  bang!  such  a  roar ;  a 
volume  of  white  smoke  rolled  forth,  tumbling  into  all 
sorts  of  fanciful  shapes,  the  water  raked  up  into  a  foam 
by  the  grape-shot,  whilst  the  ball  could  be  seen  skipping 
from  wave  to  wave,  flashing  up  pyramids  of  spray,  until 
it  crashed  among  the  trees  upon  the  shore ;  but  long  ere 
that  projectile  had  reached  its  resting-place,  the  author 
of  all  this  uproar  had  turned  twTo  or  three  somersets,  and 
now  lay  gasping  upon  his  back,  the  smoke  steaming  from 
his  jaws  as  if  overcome  by  the  violent  effort  to  disgorge 
the  load  he  had  been  crammed  with. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you,"  said  Hanse,  "  that  these  little  fellows 
were  sneezers?" 

"  Turn  him  over,  and  see  if  he's  hurt  himself." 


98  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

"  All's  right,  sir ;  next  time,  sir,  we'll  hold  him  down 
tighter." 

These  warlike  appendages  to  our  heretofore  peaceful 
deck  were  again  fitted  to  their  places,  and,  with  the 
addition  of  the  two  wooden  "  quakers,"  no  doubt  pre- 
sented a  very  formidable  appearance. 

We  had  crossed,  the  equator  in  the  Atlantic  and  de- 
scended to  a  low  latitude  in  the  Indian  Ocean;  we  were 
again  approaching  the  equator,  being  about  six  degrees 
south ;  the  sun  at  mid-day  was  far  from  being  insupport- 
ably  hot,  as  I  was  led  to  believe ;  the  air  was  fresh  and 
invigorating,  tempered,  no  doubt,  by  the  adjacent  moun- 
tains, which  rose  to  a  great  height  both  upon  the  islands 
of  Java  and  Sumatra. 

It  would  be  an  endless  task  to  describe  the  various 
interesting  objects  of  the  beautiful  panorama  which 
passed  before  us.  It  was  a  combination  of  every  kind 
of  enchanting  scenery.  I  have  viewed  many  magnifi- 
cent prospects  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  in  which 
one  or  two  points  of  greater  sublimity  may  have  inter- 
posed, but  none  that  combined  all  the  variety  of  the  first 
entrance  into  the  Sunda  group,  and  from  thence  to  the 
last  passage  between  Borneo  and  Sumatra,  and  the 
Malay  Peninsula,  ere  you  launch  into  the  China  Seas. 

Towards  night  the  breeze  had  nearly  died  away,  but 
we  still  moved  slowly  on,  and  about  sunset  reached  An- 
gier  Roads,  the  usual  anchorage-place  for  outward 
bound  East  Indiamen.  Preparations  had  been  made  for 
casting  anchor.  The  royals  were  taken  in,  top-gallant 
sails  clewed  up,  the  lower  sails  long  since,  when  at  a 
particular  spot  the  fore  and  main-topsail  halyards  were 
let  go.     The  anchor  plunged  from  the  bow,  dragging 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  99 

the  chain  cable  with  such  rapidity  through  the  hawse- 
holes  that  the  ship  trembled  from  stem  to  stern  ;  a  silence 
announced  the  fact  of  touching  ground  for  the  first  time 
on  this  side  of  the  world  ;  after  a  few  moments,  the 
gallant  Rosalie  swung  round  to  her  anchor  and  was 
stationary. 

What  a  charming  party  gathered  round  our  table 
that  evening!  The  unwieldy  frame- work,  to  secure  the 
plates  and  dishes  from  rolling  off,  was  removed,  can- 
dlesticks placed  parlour-wise  upon  a  clear  table,  and 
we  looked  forward  to  the  morrow  to  see  it  adorned 
with  all  the  luxuries  of  fresh  fish,  fowls,  fruit  and  vege- 
tables. 

"  Steward  !" 

"  Sir !"  promptly  responded  that  excellent  fellow,  who 
was  busily  arranging  his  crockery  in  his  sanctum,  fami- 
liarly known  to  us  as  his  pantry,  and  from  which,  in 
the  early  stages  of  the  voyage,  many  a  sickening  com- 
pound of  tea,  brown  sugar,  coffee,  onions,  cheese  and 
brandy  had  steamed  forth  upon  our  then  too  delicate 
olfactories. 

"  Steward !"  roared  the  same  voice. 

"  Sir-er-r !"  again  responded  that  gentleman,  trolling 
out  the  word,  jerking  forth  the  middle  of  it  with  great 
energy,  and  finishing  with  a  dying  cadence,  that  might 
be  interpreted  either  into  the  spirit  of  prompt  obedience 
or  a  curse  upon  the  appellant's  impatience.  "I'm  here, 
sir,"  appearing  the  next  moment  with  a  bottle  in  one 
hand  and  a  napkin  in  the  other. 

"  Steward  !" 

"Well,  sir?" 


100  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

"  Have  you  freshened  a  round  of  salt  junk  for  dinner 
to-morrow  V 

"  Yes,  sir — have  had  a  piece  out  of  the  harness  cask, 
overboard  from  the  bowsprit,  dipping  in  the  sea  all  day." 

"  Give  it  to  the  crew." 

"  Steward  !" 

"  Sir !" 

"  Can  you  make  turtle  soup  V9 

He  of  the  pantry,  instead  of  immediately  responding 
to  this  delicate  inquiry,  smiled  mournfully,  a  slight  ebul- 
lition of  feeling,  checked  by  an  habitual  respect  for  his 
superiors,  glistened  in  his  eyes  and  mantled  round  the 
corners  of  his  capacious  mouth ;  his  vanity  had  been 
touched  in  the  tenderest  point. — "  Have  I  lived  to  be 
asked  that  question  1  Can  I  make  turtle  soup  ?"  Then 
casting  down  his  eyes  and  surveying  those  ten  interesting 
little  appendages,  that  had  so  often  participated  in  his 
wanderings  from  camboose  to  cabin,  and  from  cabin  to 
camboose,  dwelling  fondly  for  a  moment  upon  the 
younger  branches  of  that  fraternity,  worn  down  to  a 
stump  with  a  laudable  ambition  to  keep  up  with  their 
superiors,  in  which,  to  his  then  excited  imagination,  was 
morally  shadowed  forth  his  own  painful  position,  he 
muttered  abstractedly,  "  prehaps  the  gentlemen  wouldn't 
relish  it  with  the  calipatch  cut  in  slices,  some  allspice,  a 
lemon,  a  dash  of  claret  or  old  port  wine,  with  seasoning 
to  suit.  No — prehaps,"  continued  he,  with  a  deep  sigh 
and  provoking  air  of  doubt,  as  if  soliloquizing,  "  ^rehaps 
they  wouldn't  like  the  calapee  fried  in  the  shell,  with 
hard-boiled  eggs,  and  grated  biscuit,  and  force-meat 
balls — prehzps — Oh  no  !" 

"  That  will  do,  Steward,"  we  all  cried,  "  you're  the 


SCENES  AND    INCIDENTS.  101 

boy ;"  and  off  he  walked,  mumbling  something  about, 
"  Do  I  know  how  to  make  turtle  soup  ?  eggs,  butter" — 

"  Steward !" 

"  Sir !"  responded   that   distinguished  functionary  in 
a  tone  subdued  by  feeling. 

"  Tell  the  carpenter  to  razee  a  couple  of  water-casks, 
for  I  want  to  lay  in  a  store  to-morrow  of  fat  turtle." 

After  amusing  ourselves  for  some  time,  prattling  of 
the  past  and  of  various  subjects  incident  to  our  position, 
we  ascended  to  the  deck.  A  dead  silence  reigned 
throughout  the  ship,  interrupted  only  by  the  lapping  of 
the  small  waves  against  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  and  the 
moaning  of  the  night-breeze  through  the  cordage.  Along 
the  shore,  which  was  shrouded  in  gloom,  an  occasional 
light  for  a  minute  glimmered,  then  disappeared.  It  was 
a  beautiful  night,  and  the  southern  constellations  of  the 
Centaur,  Cross  and  Argo,  shone  with  singular  lustre 
upon  the  clear  blue  firmament.  Now  and  then,  a  Malay 
prower,  silently  and  swiftly,  like  a  phantom,  darted 
across  the  bows  of  our  vessel,  and  glided  over  the 
sparkling  waters,  silvered  by  the  rays  of  a  planet,  and 
quickly  was  lost  from  view  in  the  deep  shadows  of  the 
mountain.  These  dark  gliding  objects  were  watched 
with  anxiety,  and  every  preparation  made  to  resist  any 
attack  from  a  people  that  fatal  experience  had  taught 
the  merchantman  he  was  liable  to  at  any  moment. 

Cap  Island  loomed  in  the  distance  obscurely,  like  an 
immense  dome:  a  spot  rendered  famous  by  the  wreck 
of  the  Pekin,  an  American  merchantman,  of  the  port  of 
Philadelphia,  freighted  with  a  cargo  valued  at  more 
than  half  a  million  of  dollars.  For  the  details  of  that 
terrible  disaster,  I  am    indebted  to  the  gentleman  who 


102  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

was  passenger  and  supercargo  on  board  that  ill-fated 
vessel. 

Whilst  beating  out  of  the  Straits,  on  her  return  voyage 
from  Canton,  on  the  afternoon  preceding  the  night  of 
the  disaster,  the  Pekin  was  spoken  by  a  British  sloop-of- 
war,  called  the  Proteus,  and  warned  against  so  danger- 
ous an  experiment.  Upon  approaching  Cap  Island, 
under  a  gentle  breeze,  with  all  sail  set,  and  every  pros- 
pect of  weathering  it,  the  wind  suddenly  died  away,  and 
it  immediately  became  apparent  to  every  one  on  board 
that  the  Pekin  was  sweeping  down  broadside  upon  the 
island,  under  the  irresistible  influence  of  a  current  run- 
ning like  a  mill-race. 

In  a  moment  after  she  struck  upon  a  rock,  near  the 
bows,  and  heeled  over — her  yards  touching  the  rocks — 
which  towered  above  the  peak  of  the  mainmast.  And 
there  she  lay,  hanging  by  the  bows,  upon  the  pinnacle  of 
a  rock,  whilst  from  the  stern  no  bottom  could  be  found 
with  a  line  of  eighty  fathoms.  Signals  of  distress  were 
made,  by  firing  of  guns  and  burning  of  blue  lights,  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  British  sloop-of-war,  then  at 
anchor  upon  the  very  spot  where  the  Rosalie  now  so 
calmly  reposed.  They  were  not  made  in  vain.  The 
gallant  officer  in  command  of  that  vessel  quickly  got 
under  way,  and  at  dawn  of  day  was  ready  to  assist, 
and,  if  possible,  to  save  the  vessel. 

Such  was  the  great  depth  of  water  near  the  wreck, 
that  the  commander  of  the  sloop-of-war  was  compelled 
to  bend  on  two  cables  before  he  could  bring  his  vessel  to 
an  anchor.  The  captain's  boat  soon  came  under  the 
stern  of  the  Pekin  ;  as  he  approached,  he  could  distinctly 
'be  heard,  reading  aloud  the  name  of  the  ill-fated  ship — 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  103 

"  « The  Pekin,  of  Philadelphia.'  Ha,  ha,  Brother  Jona- 
than, you've  got  it !     I  told  you  so  yesterday." 

The  water  had  made  such  progress  in  the  hold  of  the 
Pekin  that  she  was  settling  fast,  and  fears  arose  that  she 
would  sink  stern  foremost  in  deep  water,  and  all  hands 
be  swallowed  up  in  the  vortex. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  by  the  hands,  aided  by 
the  crew  of  the  British  cruiser,  to  save  as  much  of  the 
cargo  as  possible. 

The  teas,  saturated  with  water,  began  to  swell,  lifting 
up  the  decks  and  cracking  the  transverse  beams.  The 
most  costly  silks,  intended  to  adorn  the  person  of  many 
a  bright-eyed  Yankee  girl,  now  stained  with  sea  water, 
fluttered  from  the  ropes  and  spars  of  both  vessels.  We 
might  with  safety  say,  that  no  vessel  of  war  was  ever  so 
costly  adorned  as  the  British  cruiser,  not  even  the  famed 
barge  of  Cleopatra.  Two  hundred- thousand  dollars 
worth  of  the  richest  silks  of  China,  of  the  choicest 
colours,  hanging  in  festoons  from  the  highest  pinnacle  of 
her  tall  masts  to  the  decks,  even  the  bulwarks  and  ham- 
mock-cloths were  lined  with  velvet,  and  a  thirty-two 
pound  carronade  peeped  from  beneath  the  folds  of  a 
damask  brocade.  After  they  had  become  sufficiently 
dried,  they  were  crammed,  in  bulk,  into  the  hold  of  the 
Proteus. 

The  teas  were  thrown  into  the  sea  as  fast  as  a  hundred 
hands  could  work.  The  ocean  was  dyed  a  deeper  green. 
Four  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  the  choicest 
teas,  from  the  odoriferous  Chulan  to  the  pungent  Imperial, 
set  to  draw  in  that  vast  cauldron,  sweetened  with  rock- 
candy  and  creamed  with  the  foam  of  the  "  white  cap !" 
If  old  Neptune  ever  filled  his  horn  with  that  fashionable 


104  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

beverage,  what  a  tea-party  Amphitryon  and  the  Tritons 
must  have  had  in  their  coral  groves.  We  can  ima- 
gine the  mermaids  of  the  Asiatic  Archipelago— combing 
their  tresses  and  preparing  for  a  general  submarine  soiree, 
whilst  innumerable  syrens  chant  a  gleeful  chorus  in  an- 
ticipation of  the  coming  joys.  The  inhabitants  of  the  rock, 
the  while,  had  not  been  idle :  every  projecting  branch 
and  jutty  crag  of  the  overhanging  precipice  was  thronged 
with  spectators,  mowing  and  chattering  and  grinning 
at  the  novel  and  busy  scene  beneath  them.  The  dandy 
little  ring-tailed  monkey,  and  the  solemn  and  sedentary 
ape,  with  hinder  parts  all  worn  bare,  thronged  above, 
or  occasionally  caught  at  a  flying  ribbon  that  flaunted 
in  their  faces.  Spectators  of  a  more  dangerous  charac- 
ter lined  the  shores  of  Sumatra,  Java,  and  Crockatoa, 
like  jackalls  ready  to  pounce  upon  the  carcass  so  soon 
as  the  royal  beast  should  retire.  Every  cape  and  bay 
thronged  with  the  Malay  craft,  from  the  light  and  buoy- 
ant bark  canoe  to  the  warlike  prower,  with  its  hundred 
kreesed  warriors,  all  thirsting  for  blood  and  plunder, — 
many  of  that  fierce  band,  that  now  moved  in  all  the 
vigour  of  savage  manhood,  soon  destined  to  dye  their  na- 
tive sea  with  their  own  blood,  their  mangled  corses  a  prey 
for  the  greedy  shark  or  soaring  vulture. 

The  Pekin  was  abandoned  to  her  fate,  the  crew  re- 
mained on  board  the  British  sloop  of  war,  where  every 
attention  was  shown  to  them  by  the  gallant  commander, 
whose  name,  we  regret,  we  cannot  here  record.  As  a 
prelude  to  the  subsequent  event,  and  with  a  view  to 
extenuate,  if  possible,  the  conduct  of  the  British  officer 
in  the  execution  of  that  dreadful  tragedy  which  to  this 
day  is  remembered  by  the  natives  of  those  islands,  it 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  105 

were  well  to  mention,  that  some  dreadful  piracies  had 
occurred  in  those  seas  upon  British  and  American  mer- 
chantmen. In  several  instances  vessels  had  been  boarded 
in  the  night  by  Malays,  and  every  soul  on  board  put  to  tor- 
ture and  death  and  eaten.  The  cruelties  and  tortures  suf- 
fered by  the  helpless  victims,  before  death,  are  too  shock- 
ing to  narrate.  With  a  view  to  suppress  these  piracies  by 
some  signal  blow  of  vengeance,  the  British  Government 
had  sent  a  squadron  into  those  seas,  of  which  the  Proteus 
was  a  part.  As  yet,  no  opportunity  had  occurred  to  the 
Admiral  to  carry  out  his  instructions,  but  the  wreck  of 
the  Pekin  was  about  to  afford  him  the  means  of  striking 
a  terrible  blow.  A  few  days  after  the  incidents  recorded, 
the  Proteus  fell  in  with  the  frigate  of  the  Admiral,  and 
after  relating  to  him  all  the  circumstances,  orders  were 
given  immediately  to  return  to  the  wreck,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, to  get  her  off. 

The  Proteus  bore  away  for  the  wreck,  but  upon  ap- 
proaching Cap  Island,  to  the  astonishment  and  mortifi- 
cation of  the  British  captain,  the  Pekin  had  floated  off 
the  rock  upon  which  she  had  apparently  been  impaled, 
and  had  drifted  down  upon  the  Goodwin  Sands,  where 
she  lay  high  out  of  the  water  surrounded  by  at  least  a 
thousand  canoes,  the  decks  thronged  with  Malays,  strip- 
ping the  vessel  of  every  thing  portable.  Upon  observing 
the  sloop  of  war  rounding  the  point,  advancing  slowly 
under  her  topsails,  against  a  strong  current,  the  plun- 
derers deserted  the  wreck  with  the  greatest  precipitation, 
and  paddled  off  in  a  body  for  the  Island  of  Sumatra. 
The  motion  of  the  man-of-war  was  impeded  purposely 
by  drags  to  deceive  the  flying  fleet,  which  was  now 
crowded  together,  yet  rapidly  skimming  over  the  water 

8 


106  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

under  the  impulse  of  three  thousand  vigorous  savages. 
The  moment  they  had  fairly  gained  the  middle  of  the 
channel,  a  cloud  of  canvass  covered  the  spars  of  the  ad- 
vancing cruiser,  and  she  sprung  through  the  water,  steer- 
ing directly  for  the  centre  of  the  fugitives,  who  were 
now  uttering  wild  cries  of  terror,  scattering  to  the  right 
and  left  in  doubt,  dismay,  and  uncertainty,  like  a  flock 
of  birds,  into  whose  centre  a  devouring  hawk  had  made 
a  swoop.  Onwrard  came  the  terrible  ship — her  long 
black  hull  cleaving  through  the  water,  which  roared  at 
her  bows  like  a  cataract.  Suddenly  her  main-topsail 
was  hove  to  the  mast,  a  long  line  of  red  ports  flew  open, 
from  which  protruded  an  array  of  bristling  cannon  :  a 
voice  like  that  which  at  such  a  moment  sounded  to  the 
Malays  as  of  a  destroying  angel,  clear  and  piercing, 
"  trumpet  toned,"  cried — "  Port  and  starboard  fire  ! — at 
the  same  moment  a  whole  broadside  of  grape  and  cannis- 
ter  burst  from  her  dark  sides  in  sheets  of  flame,  and  with 
the  roar  of  thunder,  tearing  the  water  up  into  a  foam, 
and  crashing  amidst  the  canoes,  which  were  now  hid 
from  view  by  dense  volumes  of  smoke.  From  that  sul- 
phurous canopy  arose  a  yell  of  agony  and  terror,  which 
wras  heard  even  above  the  roar  of  artillery,  which  three 
times,  right  and  left,  vomited  forth  fire  and  destruction 
upon  those  miserable  wretches. 

From  this  field  of  carnage,  slowly  emerged  the  dark 
hull  of  the  grim  warrior,  now  sated  with  blood — the  cross 
of  St.  George  with  its  ensanguined  field,  fluttering 
from  her  peak,  and  from  the  pinnacle  of  her  tapering 
masts — and  was  again  upon  her  course  ere  the  echoes 
of  that  terrible  cannonade  had  ceased  reverberating  from 
shore  to  shore.     Upon  the   dying  and  the  dead,  was 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  107 

spread  a  thick  dark  canopy  of  smoke,  as  a  pall  upon  the 
blood-stained  sea,  which  was  slowly  lifted  by  the  return- 
ing breeze,  exposing  all  the  horrors  of  the  scene.  A  thou- 
sand wretches  had  been  hurled  into  eternity,  whilst  al- 
most as  many  more  were  either  wounded  or  floundering 
in  the  water,  a  prey  to  the  shark,  the  water  lashed  into 
a  foam  by  these  monsters  of  the  deep,  struggling  for  their 
prey.  The  blow  had  been  struck,  and  a  terrible  one. 
It  had  become  absolutely  necessary  for  the  protection  of 
commerce  to  inflict  a  chastisement  upon  these  marauders 
that  thronged  the  great  highway  to  India  and  China — 
whether  it  was  too  sanguinary  or  not,  we  must  forbear 
to  form  any  hasty  decision,  but  there  is  no  doubt  many 
years  passed  away  before  any  piracies  occurred  upon 
those  seas. 


PART    IV. 

"  Look  how  the  floor  of  heaven 
Is  thick  inlaid  with  patines  of  bright  gold  ! 
There's  not  the  smallest  orb  that  thou  behold'st, 
But  in  his  motions  like  an  angel  sings, 
Still  quiring  to  the  young-eyed  cherubins." 

Shakspeare. 

NIGHT  SCENE  IN  THE  TROPICS SUNRISE A  VISIT  FROM  THE 

NATIVES    OF    JAVA TRADING    FOR  PROVISIONS DIALOGUE 

BETWEEN    BOATSWAIN    AND    ORIENTAL    LOAFER A  MALAY 

DANDY ANTIQUITY   OF  THE  JAVANESE SUPERSTITIONS 

SECOND  SIGHT ANCIENT  TEMPLES THE  BUFFALO'S  SKULL 

GENERAL  ASPECT  OF  THE  COUNTRY — THE  CUP  TREE. 

For  many  hours  did  I  remain  upon  deck,  contem- 
plating the  silent  glories  of  that  tropical  night.  The 
scene  was  novel,  and  of  indescribable  grandeur.  I 
could  scarcely  realize  the  truth  of  my  position,  so 
sudden  the  transition  from  the  common-place  scenery  of 
the  West.  It  seemed  like  one  of  those  unaccountable 
transformations  in  a  dream.  The  tedious  voyage  across 
the  desert  of  trackless  waters  is  forgotten — and  fresh 
with  all  the  associations  and  habits  inseparably  linked  in 
with  our  life,  and  indelibly  engraved  upon  our  minds, 
we  tread  the  soil  of  another  hemisphere,  the  antipode  to 
our  own  in  every  particular.     The   stars   above   are 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  109 

strangers  to  me,  and  the  earth  beneath  my  feet.  The 
air  we  breathe  so  thick  with  the  perfume  of  spicy  groves. 
Every  thing  around  and  above  conspired  to  make  deep 
and  lasting  impressions,  which  time  has  not  effaced. 

The  dark  towering  mountains  whose  giant  shadows 
stretched  across  the  land  and  waters — "the  thousand 
isles,"  with  their  coral  caves  and  rocks  and  murmuring 
shores — the  rich  perfume  borne  through  the  dewy  air  by 
the  gentle  breeze,  that  fanned  my  cheek  and  stirred  my 
hair,  and  gently  agitated  the  beautiful  sea.  that  sparkled 
beneath  the  rays  of  a  planet — the  phantom-like  craft 
of  the  natives  that  glided  past  the  headlands  and  then 
were  lost  in  the  deep  shadows — but  above  all,  the  clear 
deep  blue  sky,  with  its  celestial  decorations,  the  con- 
stellations of  the  southern  hemisphere,  heavenly  lamps 
hanging  down,  detached  from  the  magnificent  vault — 
beyond  which  the  eye  can  pierce  into  illimitable  space; 
whilst  gazing,  a  sentiment  of  admiration  and  awe  creeps 
upon  the  spirit,  and  transports  us  at  once  into  the  bosom 
of  the  Deity. 

But  for  this  elevating  sentiment  of  the  soul,  the  deep 
sense  of  the  humility  of  our  insignificance  would  be 
overpowering. 

An  inhabitant  of  northern  climes  cannot  imagine 
the  brilliancy  of  the  stars  of  the  southern  hemisphere — 
the  constellations  of  the  Cross,  Centaur,  and  Argo, 
shine  with  such  lustre  as  to  distinctly  mark  your 
shadow,  and  others  of  the  first  and  second  magnitude 
can  be  observed  rising  from  the  horizon  or  descending 
beneath  it,  their  amplitudes  or  distances  be  taken  as 
accurately  as  the  sun  or  moon. 


110  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

Many  a  bright  planet  that  had  adorned  the  zenith  was 
sinking  beneath  the  wave  or  retired  behind  the  distant 
mountains  ere  I  sought  repose,  with  a  determination, 
however,  to  be  up  with  the  dawn  and  witness  the  sun 
rise  over  those  eastern  hills. 

So  profound  were  my  slumbers  after  the  excitement 
and  fatigues  of  the  day,  that  the  sun  might  have  risen 
and  run  his  diurnal  course  without  the  honour  of  my 
presence,  had  it  not  been  for  the  timely  interference  of 
one  who  cared  as  little  about  the  picturesque  as  a  shovel- 
nosed  shark  for  an  ice  cream.  One  or  two  shakes  from 
that  worthy  fellow,  whose  merits  I  have  before  spoken 
of,  effectually  awrakened  me,  and  I  was  soon  breathing 
the  fresh  morning  air. 

The  numerous  bays  and  islands  were  still  in  shadow. 
The  night  mists  were  slowly  rising  from  the  valleys,  and 
curling  up  the  sides  of  the  hills,  festooning  the  dark 
purple  mountains  with  fantastic  wreaths,  or  flung  like  a 
white  scarf  across  the  ravines.  The  brilliant  white 
dawrn  of  a  tropical  morning  adorned  the  eastern  horizon, 
insensibly  ascending  the  heavens  as  far  as  the  zenith, 
into  a  multitude  of  intermediate  shades,  from  the  mellow 
tint  of  yellow  to  the  rich  orange,  lively  vermilion,  and 
deep  violet,  gorgeously  resplendent,  in  a  magnificent 
series  of  harmonic  contrasts. 

From  behind  the  dark  peak  of  Crockatoa,  which  for 
a  moment  glowed  like  a  volcano,  the  sun  rose  in  all  his 
majesty,  and  shed  his  glories  upon  the  lovely  landscape, 
and  animated  every  thing  with  his  presence  ;  the  waters 
danced  and  sparkled  beneath  his  beams — the  groves  of 
palms  waved  their  long  branches  in  graceful  salutation 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  Ill 

to  the  morning  breeze — and  the  clouds  of  the  night  that 
had  slept  upon  the  hills,  pierced  by  his  salient  rays,  fled 
westward  in  rolling  scattered  columns. 

Flocks  of  tropical  birds,  with  glittering  plumage, 
winged  their  way  across  the  channel.  The  sea  and 
every  bay  was  enlivened  by  the  craft  of  the  natives, 
skimming  over  the  surface  with  their  long  lateen  sails, 
or  paddling  from  the  shore  to  our  ship. 

I  am  sorry  to  confess  that  the  beautiful  and  pic- 
turesque were  in  a  moment  merged  in  visions  of  fat 
turtle,  fish,  and  fowl — and  all  my  attention  now  was 
turned  to  the  approaching  traders.  There  were  at  least 
a  hundred  pulling  from  the  shores,  each  canoe  crammed 
with  every  kind  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  and  live  stock, 
and  in  a  few  hours  after  they  had  been  alongside,  the 
ship's  decks  were  thronged  with  monkeys,  parroquets, 
fowls,  and  pigs,  innumerable  cages  filled  with  Java 
sparrows,  and  last,  but  not  least  in  the  estimation  of 
all,  a  dozen  fat  turtle  flapping  their  white  flippers  upon 
the  forecastle.  It  was  a  sight  to  make  an  alderman 
weep  for  joy.  With  affectionate  respect  did  the  steward 
turn  them  about  and  comment  upon  their  several 
beauties,  and  finally  determined  upon  the  victim  first 
to  be  offered  up  as  a  propitiatory  sacrifice  to  our 
appetites. 

There  was  one  of  the  natives  who  had  outstripped  his 
companions  in  the  canoe-race  from  the  shore  to  our 
vessel.  He  brought  nothing  with  him  to  trade  or  sell, 
and  consequently  had  a  great  advantage  over  his  com- 
petitors, whose  canoes  were  full  of  truck.  When  this 
worthy  reached  us,  and  had  fastened  his  frail  bark  to  the 


112  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

mizzen  chains,  he  crawled  on  board  in  the  most  unsailor- 
like   manner  imaginable.     From  the   folds  of  a  dirty, 
ragged  garment,  that  reached  halfway  down  his  miser- 
ably thin  legs,  he  lugged  out  a  stone  bottle,  emphasizing 
at  the  same  time  a  word  of  one  syllable,  which  at  once 
developed   his   character  and  wants.     "  Rum,"  said   he, 
addressing  the  boatswain  with  great  respect,  thrusting 
the  jug  at  the  same  time  in  his  face,  who  returned  the 
salutation,  by  requesting  the  Oriental  loafer  immediately 
to  make  sail  for  the  lower  regions.     As  he  of  the  bottle 
was  utterly  ignorant  to  whom   and   to  what  place  the 
boatswain  had  so  courteously  consigned  him,  with  ex- 
cusable pertinacity  he  still  preferred  his  claim  for  some 
of  that  liquid,  accompanied    by   the  most   supplicating 
gestures.     We  will  not  pretend  to  say  by  what  motives 
Jack   was  prompted,   whether  from   a    mischievous    or 
benevolent  one,  or  whether  from  a  general  principle  with 
sailors  never  to  decline  giving,  or  refuse  the  donation  of 
such   matters,  but  a  most  copious  dram  was  given  the 
native,  without  any  apparent  scruples  of  conscience  on 
the  part  of  the  donor.     No  sooner  was  it  gulped  down, 
however,  than  Jack  again  intimated  a  desire,  couched  in 
no  very  polite  phrase,  that  he  of  the  canoe  should  depart 
forthwith   to  the  regions  of  his  infernal  majesty,   and 
expressing  in  no  very  equivocal  terms  his   unmitigated 
disgust  to  the  person  of  this  specimen  of  Oriental   ele- 
gance, who   added    to   his    other    attractions    a  mouth 
hideously  blackened  by  the  free  use  of  the  betel-nut.   The 
bottle  presented   by  the  native,  to  the  astonishment  of 
Jack,  was  an  empty  one  of  Day  and  Martin's  blacking. 
He  therefore  very  wisely  concluded  that  the  fellow  had 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  113 

been  partaking  of  that  far-famed  liquid  for  want  of  the 
other. 

"  Speak  out  like  a  man,  you  Cherokee,  if  any  thing 
decent  for  a  respectable  gentleman  like  myself  to  listen 
to,  can  come  from  that  coal-hole." 

At  this  last  effusion  of  the  chief  of  the  forecastle,  there 
was  a  general  roar  of  laughter  from  the  crowd,  which 
somewhat  disturbed  Jack's  equanimity. 

"  Prehaps,"  said  the  carpenter,  "  this  gentleman  is 
'boots'  at  the  Ingen  Queen  hotel  on  shore  there,  and 
being  rather  short  of  cold  wittels,  he's  swallowed  his 
blacking.  Ask  him,  Jack,  if  he'd  like  to  taste  a  morsel 
of  our  cat  with  nine  tails." 

At  this  suggestion,  Jack  went  to  the  locker  and 
brought  out  the  strange  animal  alluded  to,  which  he  not 
only  exhibited  to  the  stranger,  but  expatiated  upon  its 
merits  with  much  fervour,  and  in  his  own  peculiar  style 
of  eloquence,  drawing  the  strings  through  his  fingers,  and 
flourishing  it  about  in  the  most  scientific  and  familiar 
way — and  demanding  whether  "  that  was  not  a  sweet 
plaything,  and  that  a  taste  of  its  qualities  would  restore 
him  to  reason  as  quick  as  the  wild  man  in  the  play." 

Whether  Jack's  eloquence,  or  one  or  two  magic 
touches  from  the  cat  inspired  the  native,  it  is  impossible 
to  say ;  but  suddenly  he  cried  out  "  more" — accom- 
panied by  a  little  pantomime  between  hand  and  mouth, 
which  was  too  plain  to  be  misunderstood.  Jack  either 
was,  or  affected  to  be,  as  much  shocked  at  this  unrea. 
sonable  demand,  as  the  parochial  cook,  when  Oliver 
Twist  called  for  more  soup ;  and  instead  of  granting 
the  request,  immediately  applied   the  instrument  to  his 


114  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

back,  accompanied  at  the  same  time  by  a  kick,  bestowed 
with  much  liberality  and  good-will.  Upon  the  reception 
of  these  liberal  and  gratuitous  donations,  the  hitherto 
passive  disseminator  of  the  fame  of  Day  and  Martin,  at 
one  bound  cleared  the  bulwarks  and  plunged  head  fore- 
most into  the  sea.  Jack  gazed  about  him  for  a  moment 
perfectly  bewildered,  and  heedless  of  the  jibes  of  his 
companions.  The  figure  and  movements  of  the  Malay, 
indicated  no  such  surprising  powers  of  agility.  The 
boatswain,  therefore,  attributed  this  Ravel  movement 
entirely  to  the  impetus  received  from  his  own  vigorous 
leg.     Addressing  the  bystanders,  he  cried — 

"  I  say,  shipmates,  did  you  see  that  ?  I  just  touched 
the  chap  with  my  starboard  flopper,  under  the  counter, 
and  blow  me  if  it  didn't  sky  him.  I  say,  forard  there, 
look  if  that  ingen  ain't  sticking  in  the  fore-rigging." 

We  turned  from  this  small  comedy,  to  observe  the 
canoes  and  natives  which  now  surrounded  the  vessel; 
and  I  soon  became  deeply  engaged  in  bartering  trink- 
ets, handkerchiefs  and  knives  with  the  motley  assem- 
blage. 

Almost  every  canoe  was  freighted  with  live  stock, 
and  every  kind  of  vegetable  and  strange  fruit,  from  the 
orange  and  pine-apple,  to  the  duran  and  mangastein — 
the  last  mentioned,  the  most  luscious  of  all  fruits — a 
natural  strawberry  cream  ;  if  frozen,  it  would  excel  in 
flavour  any  dish  of  that  cooling  compound  that  Wood 
or  Parkinson  ever  served  to  their  customers.  The  duran 
is  an  extraordinary  fruit,  and  greatly  prized  by  the 
natives.  At  first,  the  smell  is  so  repulsive,  that  you  cast 
it  away  in  disgust  ;  but  the  flavour  is  an  agreeable  com- 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  115 

pound  of  sweets  and  acids,  so  delightfully  intermingled, 
and  in  such  exquisite  proportions,  that  you  forget  the 
smell  and  abandon  all  other  fruits  when  you  can  obtain 
this  natural  consolidated  punch,  without  any  of  the 
cloying  or  intoxicating  qualities  of  that  well-known 
beverage. 

The  canoes  are  worked  with  a  double-bladed  paddle, 
dipping  it  alternately  in  the  water  on  either  side.  They 
will  propel  their  slight  barks  through  the  water  with 
astonishing  speed. 

Some  of  these  people  were  remarkably  well-shaped, 
and  with  very  intelligent  faces.  I  was  particularly 
struck  with  the  manners  and  bearing  of  a  youth  who 
had  sold  out  his  stock  in  trade,  and  wras  now  amusing 
himself  with  cutting  jokes  upon  his  fellows — paddling 
about  from  canoe  to  canoe,  chatting  with  this  one,  then 
throwing  an  orange  at  another.  As  this  Javanese  and 
myself  were  about  the  same  age,  he  quickly  caught  my 
eye,  and  observing  something  in  the  glint  of  it  that  sym- 
pathized with  his  own  humour,  we  quickly  made  ac- 
quaintance, and  commenced  a  conversation  in  the  style 
of  Valentine  and  Orson. 

I  presented  him  with  a  waistcoat  of  gaudy  pattern, 
and  he  jumped  into  his  little  boat,  evidently  delighted 
with  the  prize,  for  he  waved  it  about  triumphantly,  to 
the  envy  of  all  beholders.  Those  admirable  tailors, 
Robb  &  Winebrenner,  when  it  passed  out  of  their  hands, 
never  dreamed  that  it  would  adorn  the  person  of  a 
tawny-skinned  Malay.  Perhaps  this  fellow,  upon  some 
subsequent  occasion,  may  have  astonished  a  curious 
navigator  with  a  garment  cut  by  a  fashionable  Philadel- 


116  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

phia  tailor,  as  much  as  we  were  by  the  apparition  of 
"  Day  &  Martin's  best,"  in  the  hands  of  the  Oriental 
loafer  before  spoken  of.  But  I  hope  the  wearer  by  that 
time  will  have  become  a  little  more  familiarized  with 
the  garment,  for  the  last  time  I  saw  him  he  had  thrust 
his  legs  through  the  arm-holes,  and  was  exercising  his 
natural  ingenuity  to  make  it  meet  behind. 

Having  received  now  a  full  supply  of  every  thing,  at 
about  noon  these  visiters  began  to  depart  one  by  one 
from  the  ship,  and  we  commenced  an  examination  of 
our  various  purchases.  Poor  Pug  !  (there  was  at  least 
thirty  of  these  long-tailed  gentlemen  on  board,)  cast 
many  a  lingering  look  towards  his  native  shores,  never 
destined  to  see  them  again.  Some  came  to  an  untimely 
end  long  before  we  arrived  in  China;  others  outlived 
storms  and  ill-usage,  and  after  again  passing  their  native 
shores  upon  the  return  voyage,  arrived  safely  in  the 
United  States;  and  may  have  ultimately,  after  an 
arduous  professional  career,  expired  in  the  arms  of  an 
organ-grinder. 

They  were,  however,  a  source  of  great  amusement  to 
us,  and  one  of  them,  the  hero  of  the  adventure  with  the 
strange  bird  with  the  long  bill,  figured  largely  in  one  of 
my  sketches. 

The  Javanese  are  an  ancient  people ;  whether  they  are 
the  same  race  that  are  spoken  of  in  the  Scriptures,  as 
traders  to  ancient  Tyre,  has  not  been  satisfactorily  settled, 
though  I  should  be  tempted  to  believe,  with  Sir  Stamford 
Raffles,  that  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this  beautiful 
island,  were  a  distinct  race  from  the  present  rude  and 
simple  people. 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  117 

In  the  10th  chapter  of  Genesis,  we  are  told  "  that  the 
Isles  of  the  Gentiles  were  divided  in  their  lands ;  every- 
one after  his  tongue,  after  their  families  in  the  nations." 
And  in  the  27th  chapter  of  Ezekiel,  we  find  amongst  the 
rich  merchants  those  of  Javan,  "  who  traded  the  persons 
of  men,  and  vessels  of  brass,  to  the  market  of  Tyre ; 
and  who,  going  to  and  fro,  occupied  in  her  fairs,  brought 
bright  iron,  cassia,  and  calamus." 

The  ancient  ruins  of  temples  and  cities  scattered  over 
this  island,  strike  the  spectator  with  astonishment  and 
veneration.  Every  hill  has  its  magnificent  temple  now 
in  ruins ;  and  valleys  are  filled  with  monuments  of  im- 
mense cities,  of  which  the  present  inhabitants,  like  the 
South  Americans,  have  no  tradition.  These  splendid 
piles  must  have  been  erected  under  the  superintendence 
of  a  people  highly  skilled  in  the  arts.  Whether  the  pre- 
sent rude  and  simple  race  are  descendants  of  that  ancient, 
civilized  people,  or  whether  they  were  foreigners,  con- 
quered and  obliterated  from  the  face  of  the  earth  by 
savage  invaders,  is  an  interesting  subject  for  philosophi- 
cal speculation,  but  as  little  likely  to  be  satisfactorily 
settled,  as  who  were  the  builders  of  the  ancient  ruins  of 
Yucatan.  A  monument  that  had  been  buried  for  ages 
in  the  forests  of  South  America,  has  been  transported  to 
New  York  by  the  talented  and  adventurous  Stephens — 
a  sculptured  column  from  the  base  of  Gunung-Kardang, 
may  one  day  stand  beside  it,  and  the  antiquarian  behold 
at  a  glance  monuments  from  the  two  hemispheres,  alike 
curious  for  their  antiquity  and  similarity  of  form  and 
sculpture. 

The  Javanese,  like  all  rude  and  uncultivated  people, 


118  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

believe  in  witchcraft  and  sorcery,  and  the  mountaineers, 
like  the  Highlanders  of  Scotland,  in  second-sight.  A 
singular  instance  of  these  credulous  superstitions  is  re- 
corded by  a  Dutch  historian,  which  has  a  striking  re- 
semblance to  the  Highland  superstitions  of  the  cross, 
which  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  immortalized  in  verse. 

The  skull  of  a  buffalo,  in  the  short  space  of  twenty 
days,  had  travelled  over  the  whole  island  of  Java,  jour- 
neying through  remote  districts  and  kingdoms  with  the 
speed  of  lightning — transmitted  from  hand  to  hand  by 
these  credulous  people  who,  without  knowing  why  or 
wherefore,  obeyed  the  mandate  at  every  sacrifice.  There 
was  some  undefinable  feeling  of  evil  to  themselves  or 
relations  if  this  senseless  matter  was  not  kept  in  motion. 
The  Dutch  authorities,  either  from  suspicion  or  perhaps 
a  better  motive,  arrested  the  progress  of  this  strange 
symbol  and  threw  it  into  the  sea. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  no  graphic 
description  of  the  island  of  Java,  its  inhabitants  and 
scenery.  Something  beyond  the  dry  political  details  of 
Raffles  and  Crawford,  and  the  statistical,  botanical  and 
geological  researches  of  Marsden.  Something  that 
would  amuse  as  well  as  instruct.  Incidents  of  travel 
by  such  a  pen  as  Stephens  would  be  a  great  acquisition. 

It  abounds  with  magnificent  scenery — mountains  rising 
to  the  height  of  12,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
and  natural  phenomena  of  the  most  wonderful  kind. 
Volcanic  fires  are  constantly  burning,  and  terrible  erup- 
tions sometimes  occur  which  spread  destruction  far  and 
wide. 

In  1772,  the  Papuandayang  burst  forth  into  flame,  and, 


SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS.  119 

after  shaking  the  island  to  its  centre  by  terrible  explo- 
sions, and  scattering  ashes  and  scoria  for  three  hundred 
miles  from  its  base,  sunk  into  the  earth  and  disappeared; 
fifteen  miles  in  length  by  twelve  broad  of  this  mountain 
was  swallowed  up.  The  subterranean  noises  constantly 
reverberating  amongst  the  hills  and  valleys  tend  no  doubt 
to  keep  alive  and  heighten  that  feeling  of  superstition 
which  is  so  common  among  the  inhabitants. 

The  general  aspect  of  this  country  is  exceedingly 
beautiful,  uniting  all  the  rich  and  magnificent  scenery 
which  waving  forests,  never-failing  streams  and  constant 
verdure  can  present,  heightened  by  a  pure  atmosphere 
and  the  glowing  tints  of  a  tropical  sun.  Nature's  several 
kingdoms  abound  with  wealth  scattered  profusely  by  the 
hand  of  a  beneficent  God.  You  feel  His  presence  every 
where.  The  Cup  Tree,  alone,  if  insensible  to  every 
thing  else,  would  strike  the  unbeliever  with  the  truth  of 
an  Almighty  Providence. 

Imagine  a  tree  of  great  height  with  spreading  branches 
and  glossy  metallic  leaves — through  which  the  sun's 
rays  at  mid-day  cannot.pierce — imagine  this  tree  covered 
with  innumerable  goblets,  each  cup  supplied  with  a  top 
moving  upon  a  hinge  of  the  most  exquisite  and  delicate 
construction,  which  opens  at  night  and  receives  the  fall- 
ing dew  till  filled  with  the  pearly  liquid  to  the  brim,  when 
the  top  closes  and  seals  up  the  treasure.  At  the  hour  of 
noon,  when  the  sun's  rays  pierce  like  a  javelin,  and 
every  living  and  inanimate  thing  shrinks  from  his  beams, 
the  lid  opens,  the  stem,  which  so  firmly  sustained  the 
vase,  bends,  and  a  shower  of  crystal  waters  pours  forth 
to  refresh  every  thing  within  its  influence — myriads  of 


120  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

birds  and  butterflies  like  golden  blossoms  gemming  every 
leaf,  chanting  in  the  sweetest  and  wildest  tones  their 
praises  of  the  Great  Creator. 

Send  your  unbeliever  out  of  your  crowded  cities  into 
God's  holy  temples  upon  the  mountain's  side  or  teeming 
valley — let  him  look  upon  this  tree,  blossomed  with 
living  creatures.  Let  him  stand  beneath  its  shade  and 
receive  a  baptism  from  the  dews  of  heaven  at  noonday, 
beneath  an  equatorial  sun— and  he  will  bow  down  before 
that  magnificent  shrine,  humbled  in  spirit  and  elevated  in 
sentiment. 


DIPLOMATIC   CORRESPONDENCE. 


A  portion  of  the  following  sketches  are  semi-political, 
but  not  in  the  slightest  degree  tinctured  with  that  bitter- 
ness  which  generally  accompanies  political  matters.  On 
the  contrary,  they  abound  with  good-humoured  jokes, 
intended  to  be  hit  off  with  pleasantry  and  classic  humour. 
The  distinguished  public  characters  who1  occasionally 
figure  in  these  pages,  not  excepting  even  the  Emperor  of 
China,  will  no  doubt  enter  into  the  full  enjoyment  of  the 
jeu  d'e splits. 

Department  of  State. 

TO  THE  HONOURABLE  C C ., 

Envoi/  Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary,  from 
the  United  States  of  America  to  the  Court  of  his  most  celes- 
tial majesty  and  highness  Kiang  Foo,  ilie  Emperor  of 
China. 

Sir  : — The  President  has  been  pleased,  during  the 
recess  of  Congress,  and  since  you  were  rejected  by  the 
Senate,  to  confer  upon  you  the  appointment  as  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  court 
of  his  most  celestial  majesty  the  Emperor  of  China.  In 
all  human  probability  your  nomination  will  not  be  con- 

9 


122  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

firmed  by  the  Senate;  your  time  being  short,  yon  will 
therefore  make  the  most  of  it. 

I  have,  by  order  of  the  President,  directed  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury  to  honour  your  drafts  for  the  full 
amount  of  your  outfit  and  emoluments.  I  take  this 
opportunity  formally  to  express  my  regret  that  the  com- 
pensation was  not  more  liberal,  it  being  in  fact  not  equal 
to  a  private  gratuity  received  by  me  from  the  merchants 
of  Boston  for  a  little  business  transaction  done  for  them 
in  England  ;  yet  the  President  joins  with  me  in  opinion, 
that  considering  the  place  of  your  birth,  with  proper 
economy,  you  may  not  only  be  able  to  perform  all  the 
duties  incident  to  the  very  important  mission,  but  lay  up 
a  comfortable  subsistence  for  your  future  benefit. 

As  a  particular  mark  of  his  favour  to  you,  and  with 
the  view  to  make  a  signal  and  lasting  impression  upon 
his  celestial  majesty  the  Emperor  of  China  and  the 
Governors  and  Rulers  of  that  great  empire,  the  President 
has  been  pleased  to  send  out  with  you  his  beloved  son 
Bob,  the  author  of  Ahasuerus,  the  Lost  Foundling,  and 
other  forthcoming  poems.  This  has  invariably,  amongst 
all  nations,  been  deemed  the  strongest  evidence  of  confi- 
dence and  the  most  distinguished  mark  of  respect,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  the  Emperor  will  justly  appreciate  the 
sacrifice  not  only  made  by  the  President  but  by  the 
whole  people  of  the  United  States,  who  feel  the  most 
lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  that  prepossessing  youth. 

With  a  view  to  a  partial  mitigation  of  the  affliction 
incident  to  so  painful  a  bereavement,  I  have  likewise 
directed  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  honour  his 
drafts  for  a  handsome  outfit  and  emoluments,  and  charge 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  123 

the  same  to  incidental  expenses,  and  ere  this,  that  gifted 
young  man  no  doubt  has  pocketed  the  same. 

As  the  people  of  China  attach  great  importance  to 
show  and  parade,  and  will  no  doubt  be  greatly  influenced 
by  the  appearance  of  the  Envoy  and  his  suite,  you  will 
let  no  opportunity  slip  of  adding  to  the  dignity  and 
importance  of  the  nation  you  represent. 

For  this  purpose  you  will  depart  from  the  severe  sim- 
plicity of  our  republican  manners,  carried  perhaps  to  an 
excess  by  our  present  Envoy  to  the  Court  of  Vienna,  and 
pursue  a  course  more  consistent  with  the  character  of 
the  government  and  people  with  whom  you  are  to  reside. 
I  will  not  presume  to  dictate  to  you  upon  a  matter  so 
especially  within  your  own  discretion,  but  will  very 
respectfully  suggest  that  a  vast  display  might  be  made 
at  a  trifling  cost  by  the  free  use  of  Chinese  crackers  and 
other  fireworks. 

The  Chinese  being  a  curious  and  ingenious  people,* 
and  celebrated  for  their  skill  in  the  mechanic  arts,  you 
will  carry  with  you  a  plentiful  supply  of  specimens  of 
the  notions  and  inventions  of  New  England.  The  Presi- 
dent has  requested  your  attention  especially  to  be  drawn 
to  a  box  of  beautiful  workmanship,  made  from  some 
choice  remnants  of  lumber  found  at  Harrisburg,  the 
Capital  of  the  great  and  thriving  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
presented  to  the  Government  by  Kickapoo,  the  worthy 
Governor  of  that  State,  obtained  through  the  mediation 
of  our  principal  War  Mandarin,  and  chief  of  Indian 
Affairs,  in  which  are  contained  two  elaborate  specimens 
of  the  wooden  ham  and  nutmeg,  an  article  of  commerce 
for  which  your  countrymen,  and  I  am  proud  to  say,, 
mine,  are  famous. 


124  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

There  are  also  some  specimens  of  tin  ware,  and  a 
miniature  representation  of  the  primitive  New  England 
cart,  by  which  this  curious  and  useful  fabric  is  conveyed 
by  the  enterprising  citizens  of  the  North  throughout  all 
parts  of  this  great  empire. 

The  President  has  been  informed  that  the  Chinese  are 
great  admirers  of  small  feet,  and  indeed  our  own  obser- 
vation, and  conversations  with  captains  and  supercar- 
goes, and  numerous  representations  upon  tea-chests,  con- 
firm the  truth  of  that  information.  As  our  countrywomen 
generally  are  not  remarkable  for  that  peculiar  beauty, 
and  thereby,  we  may  be  -disparaged  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Emperor  and  rulers  of  the  Celestial  Empire,  he  sends 
you  a  small  shoe,  worn  by  a  ward  of  his,  of  Virginia, 
who  was  remarkable  for  that  beauty,  and  consequently 
received  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Lightfoot  of  Virginia." 
Upon  the  presentation  of  this  choice  specimen,  which 
has  already  made  some  noise  in  this  country,  you  will 
take  care  to  remark  that  it  is  the  natural  growth  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  not  formed  upon  the  great  principle  of  restric- 
tion, which,  though  a  governing  principle  with  the 
President  in  matters  of  finance  and  state  policy,  has  not 
been  carried  down  so  far  with  us  as  in  China. 

There  is  also  a  model  of  a  bed,  of  very  superior  work- 
manship, to  be  presented  to  the  principal  mandarin  of 
the  Emperor's  household,  on  which  two  politicians  can 
repose  with  wonderful  satisfaction,  and  discuss  the  while, 
with  peculiar  advantage,  matters  of  great  State  import- 
ance, and  if  either  party  should  subsequently  turn  traitor 
to  their  country  or  the  Emperor,  all  their  secret  combi- 
nations, conversations  and  conspiracies  in  the  most 
minute   particulars  will   certainly  be   developed.     We 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  125 

have  a  practical  illustration  of  the  truth  of  this  in  our 
palace  at  Washington,  of  which  fact  you  can  assure  the 
Emperor. 

Every  thing  which  will  tend  to  facilitate  our  com- 
merce with  the  nation  to  which  you  are  going,  must 
unsparingly  be  resorted  to.  And  you  will  particularly 
inform  his  celestial  majesty  of  the  lively  interest  the 
President  and  his  chief  mandarins  have  taken  in  the 
opium  question,  and  of  our  sense  of  the  virtuous  determi- 
nation of  the  Emperor  to  suppress  the  entire  use  of  that 
deleterious  drug.  Its  principal  quality  being  a  powerful 
soporific,  the  president  apprehends  that  upon  the  homoe- 
opathic system,  the  dissemination  of  a  harmless  matter, 
possessing,  however,  the  same  qualities  with  the  opium 
without  its  poison,  if  freely  used,  wTould  banish  the  article 
entirely  from  the  Chinese  dominions.  He  therefore  sends 
you  a  supply  of  the  debates  of  the  last  Congress,  and  a 
file  of  the  Madisonian  bound  up  in  sheep.  The  two  first 
articles  are  so  strongly  imbrued  with  the  narcotic 
quality,  that  men  have  been  known  to  sink  into  the  arms 
of  Morpheus  at  a  glance  of  the  title  page.  The  people 
of  China,  by  dint  of  threats  and  bribes,  (the  latter  to  be 
preferred,)  may  be  induced  to  use  them  generally,  and 
thus  two  objects  will  have  been  obtained,  a  great  bless- 
ing conferred  upon  a  whole  nation,  and  the  addition  to 
our  trade  of  an  article  of  commerce  easily  manufactured, 
and  in  great  quantities. 

It  is  with  sentiments  of  deep  grief  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  indeed  the  whole  world,  but  more 
particularly  our  beloved  and  prolific  little  sister-in-law, 
Victoria,  have  observed  the  benighted  condition  of  the 
great  and  populous  empire  you  are  about  to  visit.     For 


126  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

thousands  and  thousands  of  years  this  truly  unfortunate 
people  have  been  peacefully  increasing  in  wealth  and 
prosperity,  without  a  full  knowledge  of  the  blessings 
enjoyed  by  the  nations  of  Europe  and  America,  utterly 
ignorant  of  the  art  of  war,  and  the  beautiful  extermi- 
nating systems  practised  by  their  kings  and  rulers.  You 
will  therefore  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  congra- 
tulate the  Emperor  upon  the  result  of  the  late  conflict 
with  the  amiable  Queen  of  England,  who  has  rid  him 
summarily  of  so  many  of  his  subjects,  and  so  much  of  a 
certain  article  called  sigh  see  silver,  so  called  we  sup- 
pose from  the  grievous  effect  it  produced  in  the  breasts 
of  all  Chinese  beholders,  upon  observing  that  precious 
article  depart  so  unceremoniously  into  the  possession  of 
their  benefactors  the  English. 

In  some  degree  to  aid  the  common  cause  of  humanity, 
and  to  assist  in  the  great  object  of  enlightening  and 
improving  the  condition  of  the  Chinese  people,  you  will 
receive  on  board  your  vessel  the  following  gentlemen, 
distinguished  alike  for  their  zeal,  philanthropy  and  abili- 
ties :  one  Abolitionist,  one  Mormon,  one  Millerite,  one 
Methodist,  twelve  Presbyterians  of  the  old  school,  and 
an  equal  number  of  the  new  school,  twelve  Temperance 
lecturers,  one  Catholic  Priest,  one  Rappite,  one  Espico- 
palian,  one  Puseyite,  one  Quaker,  one  Shaking  Quaker, 
one  Unitarian,  one  Social  Reformer,  one  Baptist,  one 
Seceder,  one  Jew,  one  Owenite,  and  six  reporters  of 
newspapers.  With  such  materials,  the  President  is 
under  the  sincere  belief,  with  the  help  of  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, you  will  quickly  awaken  these  benighted  people 
from  the  slumber  into  which  they  have  been  plunged  for 
so  many  centuries. 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  127 

Independent  of  these  matters  which  relate  to  the 
prosperity  of  our  commercial  intercourse  with  a  great 
nation  and  their  spiritual  welfare,  it  were  well  to  impress 
the  Emperor  with  an  idea  of  our  formidable  strength  in 
war.  After  deep  reflection,  the  President  is  convinced 
that  the  most  effectual  mode  to  promote  this,  would  be 
the  solemn  announcement  to  the  Emperor  of  his  having 

placed  at  the  head  of  that   department ,  late  of 

Northampton  county,  and  as  Chief  War  Mandarin  of 
this  great  Empire.  The  fame  of  the  great  Kickapoo 
chief  of  America  has  reached  no  doubt,  the  ears  of 
Elipoo  the  war  chief  of  China.  The  announcement  of 
this  fact  will,  in  the  opinion  of  the  President,  inspire  a 
great  respect,  with  a  corresponding  degree  of  awe. 

With  sincere  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness, 
and  with  sentiments  of  high  consideration,  I  have  the 
honour  to  remain,  your  Excellency's  very  obedient 
servant, 

Fletcher  Webster,  for 

Daniel  Webster,  Secretary  of  State. 


128  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 


PROCLAMATION 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  Yuang-  Tong,  Footchien,  Kingsi,  and 
Quangsee  Districts. 

Open  wide  your  ears — attend  to  this : 

The  Emperor,  brother  to  the  Sun,  Moon  and  Stars, 
your  Father  and  Ruler,  looks  down  from  his  mighty 
Celestial  throne  with  the  tender  eye  of  a  kind  parent 
upon  his  children. 

He  watches  and  protects  you. 

It  was  foretold  by  Hiam  Chitty-bung,  the  good  and 
just,  that  twelve  thousand  moons  should  pass  away  and 
the  people  of  the  Celestial  Empire  would  increase  and 
multiply  prosperously  ;  that  during  all  that  time  the  foot 
of  the  foreign  barbarian  should  timidly  touch  the  soil, 
leaving  not  the  impress  of  the  heel  thereon.  But,  upon 
the  eighteenth  of  Ki-too,  7964  *  "  while-eyed,  lily-livered, 
hairy-chopped  foreign  barbarians,-)-  from  remote  corners 
of  the  world,  should  mercifully  not  only  be  permitted  to 
trade,  but  their  mandarins,  or  great  men,  would  be  pri- 
vileged to  bump  their  heads  at  the  footstool  of  our  celes- 
tial and  mighty  throne." 

These  prophetic  decrees  are  being  verified.     Our  Ce- 

*  Corresponding  with  1842  of  the  Christian  era. 
t  "  Hoong-wang-zhats-ces  ;"  literally,  white-eyed,  carroty-pated  bar- 
barians. 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  129 

lestial  Brother*  is  now  in  the  eighteenth  of  Ki-too :  ac- 
cordingly, and  for  reasons  of  justice  within  our  own 
breast,  ambassadors  from  all  the  barbarians  of  the  earth, 
will  have  the  supreme  felicity  to  visit  the  Celestial  Em- 
pire, and  the  honour  to  bump  their  humble  heads  in  the 
dust  at  the  foot  of  our  Imperial  throne. 

It  has  come  to  our  knowledge  that  one  Coo-shing, 
without  tail  or  title,  has  been  sent  by  the  King  of  the 
Yean-kees,  a  nation  not  older  than  the  fat  hog  in  the 
Temple  of  Buddah  at  Yuen-min-yuen,  to  bend  his  body 
and  bump  his  head  at  our  feet,  and  that  the  aforesaid 
Coo-shixg  has  already  left  War-shing-tung,  the  capital 
of  his  master's  kingdom,  in  a  fast  vapouring  war-boat, 
in  company  with  the  son  of  the  said  King,  a  youth  who 
rejoices  in  the  name  of  Bo-bee-ti-lur-yung,  pronounced 
by  these  abbreviating  barbarians,  Bob. 

This  youth,  the  heir-apparent  to  the  throne  of  the 
Yean-kees,  is  gifted  with  the  divine  inspirations  of  the 
poet,  and  it  appears  by  a  proclamation  under  the  seal  of 
his  royal  father,  and  which  has  met  our  Imperial  eye, 
that  his  effusions — which  are  said  to  be  quite  a  harmless 
narcotic — elaborately  bound  with  the  hide  of  a  calf,  sa- 
crificed for  that  especial  purpose,  will  be  presented  as 
an  antidote  to  that  deleterious  drug  so  poisonous  to  my 
people.  A  heppoo  (custom-house  officer)  will  be  directed 
to  translate  the  same,  as  from  the  state  document  before 
alluded  to,  it  appears  that  none  but  officers  of  that  class 
could  understand  the  work  or  appreciate  its  merits. 

What  saith  the  immortal  Confu-chiou  1  (Latinized  into 
Confucius  by  the  Jesuits.)     "  The  cow   loweth   for  its 

*  The  moon. 


130  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

kind,  the  ass  pineth  for  its  foal."  Let  every  attention 
then  be  paid  this  young  barbarian,  to  mitigate  the  pangs 
of  parental  bereavement.  Let  him  be  feasted  with  sweet- 
meats of  the  tender  chou-chou,  and  savoury  chop-a-ling- 
tee,  and  humanize  his  appetite  with  the  delicious  shark's 
fin,  the  luscious  bird's  nest,  and  exquisite  puppy-dog  soup. 
Let  the  purveyor  conceal  for  a  time  the  ingredients  of 
the  last-named  delicacy,  as  these  people,  though  unquali- 
fied barbarians,  are  not  cannibals.  Upon  the  arrival  of 
the  said  Coo-shing,  ambassador  from  the  Yean-kees,  and 
the  aforesaid  Bob,  son  of  the  King  Jung-ti-lur,  at  the  Bocca 
Tigris,  their  vapouring  war-boat  will  ascend  at  once  to 
Wampoa,  without  stopping  at  Macao  or  Cap-si-moon, 
where  Elipoo  shall  attend  with  his  principal  mandarins 
to  welcome  him  with  a  suitable  display  of  fire-crackers. 

It  is  our  imperial  pleasure  that  these  foreign  barba- 
rians be  entertained  with  hospitality  becoming  our  own 
dignity,  and  however  ridiculous  their  appearance  and 
dress  may  be,  it  must  be  recollected  that  their  intentions 
are  good,  the  populace  therefore  will  refrain  from  any 
expressions  of  contempt  or  ridicule,  upon  pain  of  the 
bamboo. 

The  viceroy  of  Quang-tung  will  hasten  to  inform  the 
said  Coo-shing,  ambassador  of  the  Yean-kees  aforesaid, 
that  both  he  and  his  companion  Bob,  that  son  of  a  king, 
are  to  remain  mute  and  passive,  until  they  have  per- 
formed all  the  ceremonies  of  the  Ki-teaou.*  They  are 
reported  to  be  a  loose-jawed,  long-tongued  race,  exces- 
sively addicted  to  talkativeness — a  great  vice,  not  to  be 

t  Ki-teaou  .-—Prostrations,  bumping  the  head  upon  the  ground  nine 
times,  &c. 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  131 

tolerated  in  a  well-conducted  government ;  any  appeal 
by  the  said  Bob  to  the  people,  will  occasion  an  imme- 
diate repeal  of  all  orders  for  their  reception,  and  the  said 
barbarians  shall  be  cast  forth  in  disgrace  and  bambooed. 
The  typhoon  is  not  more  terrible  than  the  wrath  of  a 
Chinese  repealer. 

We  have  spoken — obey  all — sleep  not — tremble  at 
this ! 

KlANG  FOU. 

From  the  Golden  Throne  at  our  Celestial  Palace  at 
Peking. 


132  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Gibraltar,  August  25th,  1843. 
TO  THE  HONOURABLE  A P.  U , 

Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States,  Washington. 

Sir:— An  unforeseen  calamity  has  occurred,  of  so 
distressing,  terrible,  and  embarrassing  a  nature,  that  I 
have  deemed  it  necessary  immediately  to  send  a  special 
messenger  to  you  with  despatches.  The  United  States 
Steam  Frigate  Missouri,  was  yesterday  evening  entirely 
consumed  by  fire,  whilst  lying  at  anchor  in  the  Bay  of 
Gibraltar. 

This  magnificent  vessel,  which  has  cost  the  United 
States  so  much  money,  and  in  which  you  had  taken 
such  lively  interest  when  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and 
expended  so  much  of  the  public  treasure,  with  the 
laudable  effort  to  improve  her  smoke-pipes,  is  destroyed, 
and  sunk  in  this  harbour. 

The  Missouri  has  laid  her  bones  at  the  feet  of  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules.  From  the  top  of  that  ancient  monu- 
ment, centuries  looked  down  with  wonder  upon  the 
nautical  warrior  endowed  with  five  hundred  centaur 
power.  This  model  of  the  perfection  of  modern  science 
would  have  passed  triumphantly  those  classic  bounda- 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  133 

nes  that  had  arrested  the  progress  of  an  ancient  demi- 
god ;  but  the  element  of  her  strength  consumed  her, 
and  it  remains  for  the  Mississippi,  to  which  the  Missouri 
is  and  will  be  a  tributary,  to  achieve  the  glorious 
enterprise. 

Every  possible  exertion  was  made  by  her  gallant 
commander  to  extinguish  the  flames  and  save  the  ship ; 
his  coolness  amidst  the  scorching  flames  outrivalled  the 
far-famed  Chabert,* — but  all  was  unavailing.  The  fire 
spread  with  terrible  rapidity,  and  enveloped  every  thing 
in  flames,  and  smoke.  Spar  after  spar  tumbled  into  the 
sea,  and  at  half  past  three  o'clock,  she  blew  up  with  an 
explosion  that  shook  the  Rock  of  Gibraltar  to  its  base, 
astounding  the  inhabitants,  and  startling  from  their 
secret  recesses  numerous  apes,  those  mysterious  abori- 
ginals of  the  rock,  of  whose  origin  naturalists  have  been 
disputing  for  ages. 

One  of  these  creatures,  impelled  by  curiosity  or  be- 
wildered by  fear,  was  caught  at  the  Puerto  del  Fuego, 
or  Gate  of  Fire,  and  presented  to  me  by  Sir  George 
Sartorius.  I  have  sent  this  curious  captive  to  our  revered 
President,  with  the  sincere  hope  that  it  will  afford  him 
some  amusement  in  the  absence  of  his  highly  gifted  son. 

Captain  Newton   has  forwarded  a  full  report  of  the 


*  "  Far-famed  Chabert."— It  is  reported,  with  what  truth  we  will  not 
pretend  to  affirm,  that  this  justly  celebrated  individual,  in  the  presence 
of  many  respectable  witnesses,  carried  with  him  into  a  red-hot  oven  a 
raw  beef  steak,  and  after  remaining  inside  for  some  five  or  ten  minutes, 
reappeared  with  the  aforesaid  steak  cooked,  with  a  proper  quantity  of 
gravy,  which  the  said  Chabert  coolly  devoured  to  his  own  peculiar  grati- 
fication, and  no  small  admiration  and  astonishment  of  the  spectators. 


134  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

calamity,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  seen.  The  assertion 
therein  contained  that  "  not  a  single  life  was  lost,"  is 
erroneous.  As  the  individual  who  perished  was  espe- 
cially under  my  charge  and  attached  to  the  Embassy, 
Captain  Newton,  in  all  likelihood,  had  no  knowledge  of 
his  existence,  and  of  course  could  not  have  been  cogni- 
zant of  the  demise  of  the  worthy  gentleman  whose  exit 
from  this  transitory  life  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  his 
character  and  creed.  He  was  a  Millerite,  one  of  the 
fifty  philanthropists  attached  to  the  Embassy  by  direction 
of  Mr.  Webster,  "  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the 
Chinese,  and  awaken  those  benighted  people  from  the 
slumber  into  which  they  had  been  plunged  for  so  many 
centuries."*  It  will  be  a  comfort  to  his  friends  in  the 
United  States,  to  know  that  he  left  this  sublunary  world 
with  much  precipitation,  yet  in  the  sincere  belief  of  the 
fulfilment  of  a  prophecy  for  the  consummation  of  which 
he  was  not  only  prepared,  but,  in  the  estimation  of  all, 
signally  favoured.  Amidst  the  fragments  of  the  ship 
and  brands  of  fire  hurled  aloft  by  the  final  explosion, 
was  distinctly  visible  the  body  of  that  worthy  disciple  of 
the  revered  Father  Miller,  ascending  with  outstretched 
arms  sky  high.  One  or  two  graceful  evolutions,  heels 
over  head,  a  la  Ravel,  appeared  to  accelerate  his  upward 
progress,  in  no  way  detracting  from  the  thrilling  sub- 
limity of  the  scene.  A  pertinacious  bomb-shell  had 
accompanied  that  estimable  citizen  in  his  upward  career, 
and,  for  reasons  best  known  to  the  former,  exploded, 
and  the  immortal   Millerite  was  lost  to  our  view.     It 

*  See  instructions  to  Mr.  dishing,  p.  126. 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  135 

will  remain  with  his  friends  in  America  to  determine 
whether  he  entered  the  gates  of  Paradise  at  that  precise 
moment,  or  whether  he  is  still  continuing  his  career 
upward,  occasionally  diversifying  his  journey  by  those 
pleasing  evolutions  before  described. 

I  can  only  say,  that  some  few  moments  after,  an 
empty  skull  plumped  into  the  Bay,  as  if  precipitated 
from  a  great  height,  a  kind  testimonial,  bequeathed  no 
doubt  by  that  inspired  gentleman  to  less  favoured 
mortals  here  below. 

I  have  had  this  precious  relic  carved  into  a  punch 
bowl,  with  figures,  in  alto  relievo,  emblematical  of  the 
event,  and  other  appropriate  emblems — to  be  presented 
to  our  admirable  Secretary,  with  a  request  that  it  may 
always  be  conspicuous  upon  the  glorious  anniversary  of 
Shell-Pot. 

I  must  also  differ  from  my  excellent  friend  Captain 
Newton,  as  to  the  origin  of  the  fire  which  occasioned 
this  terrible  catastrophe ;  and  in  so  doing,  that  worthy 
officer  will  properly  appreciate  the  motive,  as  it  tends 
to  exonerate  him  from  all  blame,  and  will  cast  not  a 
little  upon  the  Embassy.  At  the  same  time  you  will 
have  the  comfortable  assurance  that  the  Smoke  Pipes 
are  in  no  way  accessary  to  the  calamity,  though  some 
have  been  malicious  enough  to  attribute  the  accident 
entirely  to  those  celebrated  fumigators.  Our  present 
able  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  who  "  when  the  wind's 
southerly  knows  a  hawk  from  a  Henshaw,"  will  no 
doubt  in  his  report  entirely  exonerate  those  poor  perse- 
cuted pipes  from  any  participation  in  the  matter. 

This  mischievous  effect,  in  my  opinion,  is  assignable 


136  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

to  that  familiar  phenomenon  called  spontaneous  com- 
bustion. Debates  of  Congress,  files  of  the  Madisonian, 
and  the  poetical  effusions  of  that  gifted  son  of  the  Presi- 
dent were  stowed  away  in  the  hold,  commingled  with 
wooden  clocks  and  hams,  tin-carts,  and  various  other 
rare  specimens  of  the  fine  arts.  Amongst  these  debates, 
there  was  a  vast  quantity  of  inflammable  matter  in  the 
shape  of  speeches  from  Southern  members  of  Congress, 
and  abolition  petitions  from  the  North.  Upon  the  floor 
of  Congress,  the  imponderable  elements  were  disengaged 
in  a  vapory  gaseous  form,  generating  much  caloric — 
affording  no  light,  and  never  passing  into  a  sensible 
state.  According  to  the  theory  of  Lavoisier,  which  has 
supplanted  that  of  Stahl,  there  was  an  entire  neutraliza- 
tion of  opposite  electricities,  or,  as  Boerhaave  figuratively 
expresses  it,  no  chemical  affinity  between  the  separate 
supporters  of  combustion. 

The  solidification  of  these  gases  by  means  of  a  press 
enforced  by  the  potent  and  unscrupulous  hand  of  patron- 
age, was  but  a  conversion  of  the  elements  from  one  form 
to  another,  liable  at  any  moment,  by  contact  and  other 
superinducing  causes,  to  produce  combustion — which 
actually  did  take  place,  and  burst  into  a  flame  upon  the 
sudden  introduction  of  a  pure  and  unaccustomed  atmo- 
sphere. You  will  perceive  by  these  philosophical  con- 
siderations, the  ground  upon  which  I  dissent  from  the 
turpentine  theory  of  Captain  Newton — and  I  feel  myself 
confirmed  in  the  opinion  that  I  have  advanced,  when  I 
reflect  that  the  exposure  of  an  immense  glass  demijohn 
of  inflammable  liquid  to  accidental  breakage  by  a  care- 
less subordinate,  would  be  utterly  incompatible  with  the 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  137 

fact  of  discipline  so  justly  asserted  by  the  commanding 
officer. 

I  confess  that  I  was  fully  aware  of  the  combustible 
qualities  of  these  things,  having  witnessed  their  effusions 
in  a  gaseous  vapoury  state  upon  the  floor  of  Congress — 
but  it  was  forgotten  or  overlooked,  owing  to  the  great 
attention  required  by  the  gentlemen  of  my  Embassy, — 
fifty  individuals  selected  from  every  known  sect  in  the 
United  States.  Those  gentlemen  were  wrangling  and 
disputing  all  day  and  all  night.  Here,  as  Boerhaave 
says,  "  was  the  actual  phenomena  of  combination,  sug- 
gesting aversions  between  two  bodies  with  no  possible 
affinity,  chemical  or  otherwise."  Lavoisier's  separate 
supporters  of  combustion,  each  one  ignitable  without  any 
combination,  living,  walking,  talking  peripatetic  phlo- 
gistons. 

There  were  but  two  of  the  fifty  that  could  converse 
together  without  coming  to  open  war,  and  their  commu- 
nications related  solely  to  the  mysteries  of  trade  and  the 
science  of  swap  and  pledge,  in  which  they  were  both 
eminently  skilful. 

It  will  be  gratifying  to  the  Government  and  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  to  be  assured  of  the  safety  of  all 
the  valuable  presents  intended  for  the  Emperor  of  China, 
with  the  exception  of  the  debates  of  Congress,  files  of 
the  Madisonian,  and  all  the  political  pamphlets,  out  of 
which  was  rescued  the  Veto  Message  of  the  President, 
it  being  a  constitutional  fact  incombinable,  and  like 
asbestos,  per  se  indestructible. 

The  full-length  portrait  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  was 
preserved  with  great  difficulty.     Any  thing  else  but  the 

10 


138  DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE. 

representation  of  that  distinguished  warrior  and  states- 
man, would  have  been  consumed  by  the  devouring  ele- 
ments ;  it  stood  fire  like  the  original,  who  was  never  born 
to  be  burned  or  drowned,  but  destined  to  be  otherwise  dis- 
posed of— upon  the  walls  of  the  palace  of  the  Emperor 
of  China. 

It  was  particularly  admired  by  the  military  gentlemen 
of  the  garrison.  They  had  heard  of  his  warlike  deeds, 
and  longed  for  a  view  of  the  Chief,  and  were  curious  to 
ascertain  from  what  aboriginal  tribe  he  traced  his  lineage. 
The  general  impression  abroad  is  that  all  our  great  men 
are  renowned  Indian  Chiefs,  and  Mr.  Webster  is  dis- 
tinguished as  the  "great  Man-dan:'  To  save  myself 
from  incessant  importunities  upon  this  subject,  I  directed 

the  following  label  to  be  attached  to  Mr. 's  picture, 

which  I  hope  will  be  gratifying  to  him: 

"  The  Secretary  of  War  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  The  great  Kickapoo  chief  and  hero  of  Shell 
Pot !" 

I  have  chartered  a  small  brig  upon  very  favourable 
terms,  and  hope  to  realize  enough  to  pay  my  expenses  to 
Alexandria,  from  whence  I  shall  eross  the  Isthmus  of 
Suez,  and  hope  to  reach  the  frigate  Brandywine  in 
safety. 

The  gentlemen  of  the  Embassy  will  accompany  me, 
with  the  exception  of  the  twelve  temperance  lecturers, 
who  decline  from  motives  of  principle  embarking  on 
board  the  Brandywine.  They  act  upon  a  principle 
which,  they  say  if  sound,  ought  to  work  well  both  ways. 
They  have  taken  the  pledge  not  to  suffer  brandy-wine 
to  go  into  them,  e  converso  they  cannot  go  into  the 
Brandywine. 


DIPLOMATIC  CORRESPONDENCE.  139 

With  the  sincere  hope,  that  however  you  may  feel 
distressed  at  this  unlooked-for  and  dreadful  calamity,  yet 
your  mind  will  be  perfectly  relieved  as  to  any  agency  of 
the  Smoke  Pipes  in  the  matter. 

I  remain,  with  high  consideration  and  respect, 

Your  most  obedient  servant,  &c. 

C B  C G. 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE, 

BETWEEN  THE  SECRETARY  OF    STATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


TON. 


British  Legation, 

Near  the  United  States,  Washington. 

To  the  Honourable  live  Secretary  of  State  of  the   United 
States  of  America. 

Sir:— The  undersigned,  Envoy  Extraordinary  and 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  her  Britannic  Majesty,  actua- 
ted by  the  deepest  solicitude  to  preserve  unimpaired  the  re- 
lations of  amity  so  happily  subsisting  between  the  govern- 
ments of  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  and  anx- 
ious to  remove  by  every  just  and  early  explanation,  all 
causes  of  misapprehension  which  might  tend  to  interrupt 
the  harmony  so  recently  consequent  upon  the  mutually 
honourable  and  satisfactorily  adjusting  Treaty  in  relation 
to  the  North-Eastern  Boundary  of  the  American  Terri- 
tory, begs  leave  earnestly  to  request  the  attention  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  to  a  circumstance  alike  interesting, 
novel  and  extraordinary,  which  has  transpired  within  a 
few  weeks,  and  which  it  is  apprehended  may  be  generally 
regarded  as  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  misrepresented 
and  perverted,  and  made  the  means  of  disproportionate 
excitement  and  ill-will  between  the  two  powers. 

The  undersigned  has  received  through  the  medium  of 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  141 

the  multifarious  and  unerring  columns  of  various  penny 
newspapers,  conclusive  evidence  that,  a  short  time  since, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  at  a  place  of  public  notoriety, 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  the  Assembly  Build- 
ings, in  the  midst  of  a  vast  concourse  of  persons  collected 
under  the  denomination  of  a  "  Repeal  Association,"  and 
"  animated  by  a  common  feeling  of  enthusiasm,"  a  dis- 
tinguished orator  and  poet,  bearing  the  same  relation  to 
his  Excellency  the  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  as  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
now  about  one  year  of  age,  bears  to  her  Majesty  the 
Queen  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  standing  in  the 
same  attitude  of  importance  and  responsibility  towards 
the  people  of  this  vast  and  powerful  republic,  as  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales  stands  towards  the 
subjects  of  the  British  monarchy,  made  a  rash,  ardent 
and  vehement  address,  exhorting  the  people  by  whom  he 
was  surrounded  to  enlist  with  the  Agitator  of  her  Britan- 
nic Majesty's  dominions,  and  actively  and  liberally  to 
furnish  the  sinews  of  war  to  effect  the  dissolution  of  the 
union  of  those  dominions,  to  resist  the  omnipotence  of 
Parliament,  to  kindle  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war,  and  to 
overwhelm  amid  the  thunders  of  their  loud,  long  and 
protracted  hoorahs,  her  Majesty's  ministers,  peerage, 
people  and  person. 

The  undersigned  feels  it  due  to  the  Chief  Magistrate 
of  this  confederacy,  that  he  should  frankly  say  that  an 
event  so  striking  and  singular,  derives  all  its  interest  and 
hazard  from  the  parental  connexion  which  subsists  be- 
tween that  functionary  and  the  gifted  orator  and  poet. 
The  undersigned  under  any  other  circumstances  would 
regard  the  matter  as  the  mere  effusions  of  youthful  in- 


142  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 

discretion.  But  when  that  youth  is  the  notoriously  ac- 
knowledged favourite  son  and  penman,  and  private  secre- 
tary of  his  father,  the  political  Chief  of  this  Empire— and 
by  a  recent  highly  important  State  document,  (the  under- 
signed alludes,  to  your  late  instructions  to  Mr.  Gushing, 
Envoy  to  China,)  the  President  not  only  publicly  avows 
that  preference,  but  esteems  it  a  special  mark  of  his  fa- 
vour towards  the  Emperor  of  those  Celestial  dominions, 
to  send  his  "  beloved  son,"  with  that  special  ambassador, 
it  becomes  his  imperious  duty  to  make  them  the  subject 
of  a  formal  diplomatic  notice. 

The  undersigned  would  further  remark  that  additional 
importance  is  derived  from  the  fact,  that  the  individual 
by  whom  it  was  made  was  at  the  time  a  resident  at  one 
of  the  National  Arsenals  of  the  United  States,  and  ac- 
tually and  constantly  in  intercourse  with  the  national 
armed  forces,  and  living  under  the  national  flag,  which 
waved  over  his  head  as  if  giving  national  sanction  to 
his  language  and  views. 

The  abolition  of  slavery  is  a  question  of  deep  and  ex- 
citing interest  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  one 
which  the  undersigned  is  free  to  confess  it  would  be 
highly  reprehensible  in  any  distinguished  subject  of  her 
Majesty's  Government  to  interfere  with  ;  if,  therefore, 
His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales,  possessing  as 
he  actually  does,  the  confidence  of  Her  Majesty  his 
mother,  and  the  exclusive  partialities  of  her  royal  breast, 
should  make  an  appeal  to  the  British  people  of  a  like  in- 
flammatory character  with  that  of  the  equal  favourite  of 
his  Excellency  the  President,  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  would  have  just  cause  of  complaint. 

The  undersigned  will  again  remark,  that  these  obser- 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  143 

vations  are  made  with  a  view  to  maintain  that  harmony 
at  present  existing  between  the  two  nations,  and  that  he 
is  impelled  by  these  motives,  and  an  imperious  sense  of 
duty,  to  lay  the  matter  before  the  Executive  Government 
of  the  United  States,  and  he  avails  himself  of  this  oppor- 
tunity to  renew  his  considerations  of  high  respect  and 
esteem,  &c. 

Henry  George  Fox, 


144  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Department  of  State. 

To  His  Excellency,  the  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  of  Her  Majesty  tJw  Queen  of  Great 
Britain, 

Sir  : — The  undersigned,  Secretary  of  Slate  of  the 
United  States,  has  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  an  official  communication  of  the  25th  inst.,  in  which 
it  is  stated,  that  with  a  "  deep  solicitude  to  preserve 
unimpaired  the  relations  of  amity  so  happily  subsisting 
between  the  Governments  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,"  the  attention  of  the  undersigned  is  called 
to  the  occurrence  of  a  circumstance  "  alike  interesting, 
novel  and  extraordinary,  which  has  transpired  within  a 
few  weeks,"  and,  "  which  it  is  apprehended  may  be  the 
means  of  disproportionate  excitement  and  ill-will  between 
the  two  powers." 

The  undersigned  respectfully  remarks,  that,  if  he 
rightly  understands  the  concluding  paragraphs  of  that 
communication,  the  subject  matter  of  which  you  have 
deemed  it  "  an  imperious  duty  to  make  a  subject  of 
formal  diplomatic  notice  to  the  Executive  of  the  United 
States,"  there  are  embraced  two  propositions  of  a 
distinct  and  specific  nature,  yet  correlative  and  depen- 
dant upon  each  other  ;  the  one,  indicative  and  expressive 
of  a  strong  desire  to  cherish  the  friendly  intercourse  now 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  145 

subsisting  between  the  two  countries ;  the  other,  a  fear 
that  that  harmonious  intercourse  will  be  interrupted  by 
the  conduct  of  the  "  favourite  son,  penman,  adviser  and 
private  and  confidential  Secretary  of  the  Chief  Magis- 
trate of  this  Republic." 

The  undersigned  admits  to  a  certain  extent,  the 
parallel  which  is  drawn  between  the  position  of  His 
Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  the  distin- 
guished son  of  the  President,  as  to  the  influence  they 
naturally  exercise  over  their  respective  distinguished 
parents :  His  Royal  Highness  having  the  exclusive 
partialities  of  His  Royal  Mother's  breast,  and  our  Bob 
the  unqualified  control  of  the  mind  and  actions  of  his  dis- 
tinguished father;  yet  the  undersigned  will  very  respect- 
fully unequivocally  deny  the  assumption  of  any  further 
similitude  between  the  parties.  The  truth  of  this  propo- 
sition the  undersigned  deems  to  be  undeniable,  and  is 
ever  ready  for  a  free  discussion  of  that  point  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  others. 

His  Excellency,  Her  Majesty's  Envoy  Extraordinary 
and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  is  referred  to  Vattel's  Law 
of  Nations,  Book  III.  chap.  III.  page  460,  Dublin  edition, 
printed  by  Luke  White,  1777:— "Where  two  persons 
are  disputing  on  the  truth  of  a  proposition,  it  is  impos- 
sible that  two  contrary  sentiments  should  be  true  at  the 
same  time." 

The  uncontrolled  liberty  of  speech,  coupled  with  the 
right  of  insurrection,  is  the  inherent  and  indefeasible 
right  of  every  citizen  of  the  United  States.  Granting,  by 

way  of  argument,  that  Mr.  T r  has  arrived  at  years 

of  discretion,  he  has  a  perfect  right  to  exercise  all  the 
constitutional  privileges  of  a  citizen ;  he  has  full  liberty 


146  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 

to  make  speeches  and  to  write  poetry.  By  the  benign 
equality  of  our  laws,  however,  no  one  is  compelled  to 
listen  to  the  one  or  peruse  the  other ;  if  it  were  other- 
wise, the  undersigned  is  free  to  admit,  that  the  inherent 
right  of  insurrection  above  referred  to  would  become  not 
only  a  lively  but  an  active  sentiment  of  the  people. 

The  reverse  of  all  this  exists  in  England  from  the 
nature  of  the  Government;  His  Royal  Highness,  from 
the  very  dignity  of  his  position,  is  controlled  in  his  juve- 
nility by  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  Realm — His  Royal 
Highness  therefore  has  a  Chancellor  to  take  charge  of 
his  little  Royal  conscience,  and  an  Attorney-General 
especially  deputed  to  take  charge  of  his  little  private 
affairs,  and  to  preserve  them  from  those  indiscretions 
incident  to  his  tender  age.  The  right  of  conscience, 
with  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  refers  only  to 
the  right  which  every  man  has  to  set  up  any  form  of 
religion  he  may  deem  proper,  but  has  never  been  deemed 
a  political  principle  essential  to  the  administration  of 
public  affairs,  and  of  late  has  been  entirely  banished  from 
the  consideration  of  the  present  Chief  Magistrate  and  his 
Cabinet.* 

These  differences  and  distinctions,  therefore,  are  so 
plain  and  apparent  that  the  undersigned  will  respectfully 

*  This  is  a  very  judicious  remark  of  the  Secretary  ;  certainly,  there 
never  was  a  "  right,  more  literally  exercised  by  any  people  on  the  face  of 
this  globe.  Every  sect  and  religion  that  was  ever  heard  of  flourishes  at 
present  in  the  United  States,  with  the  exception  of  Musslemen,  and  some 
have  affirmed  that  to  be  the  creed  of  certain  people  who  cry  loudly 
through  the  streets,  at  the  tail  of  a  cart,  in  those  particular  months  of  the 
year  in  the  spelling  of  which  the  letter  '  r'  interposes.  They  are  perse- 
vering, zealous,  and  sometimes  c/a??iorous.  Like  the  Camerons  they  cry 
aloud  and  spare  not." 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  147 

beg  leave  to  close  this  branch  of  the  subject,  with  this 
passing  remark,  that  Her  Majesty's  Envoy  will  unequi- 
vocally understand,  that  nothing  is  meant  in  any  way  to 
disparage  the  intellectual  qualifications  of  His  Royal 
Highness ;  though  scarcely  one  year  of  age',  and 
B — b  in  his  25th  year,  we  believe  them  both  to  be 
upon  a  'par.  As  yet,  this  Government  has  had  no 
official  communication  of  any  effusions,  at  least  of  a 
poetic  nature,  from  His  Royal  Highness  ;  yet  through  the 
same  "  unerring  columns"  of  which  her  Majesty's  Envoy 
has  been  pleased  to  speak,  it  has  come  to  our  knowledge, 
that  the  attendants  and  advisers  of  His  Royal  Highness, 
are  endeavouring  to  cultivate  such  inspirations,  by  the 
repetition  of  affecting  and  touching  passages  from  the 
primitive  English  bards. 

The  undersigned,  therefore,  actuated  by  the  same 
friendly  motives  and  desires,  expressed  by  her  Majesty's 
Envoy,  and  thus  after  denying  nothing,  conceding 
nothing,  and  explaining  every  thing,  hopes  nothing  will 
occur  to  interrupt  that  harmonious  intercourse  now  sub- 
sisting between  the  two  nations.  The  fact  of  Gen. 
J M p (  late  of  Easton  and  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, being  Secretary  of  War,  which  by  this  time 
must  be  known  even  in  China,  the  undersigned  appre- 
hends is  a  sufficient  guarantee  to  the  United  States,  of  a 
continued  peace  with  all  the  powers  of  the  earth. 

The  undersigned  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity  to 
renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and  respect. 

,  Secretary  of  State. 


148  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 


British  Legation, 

Washington,  July  1st,  1843. 

To  the   Honourable,   the    Secretary  of  State  of  the   United 
States. 

Sir  :— The  undersigned,  her  Britannic  Majesty's  En- 
voy Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  near 
the  United  States,  has  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  State, 
in  reply  to  one  from  this  Legation  of  the  25th  ultimo. 

The  undersigned  but  for  the  concluding  paragraph  of 
that  communication,  would  not  consider  it  necessary  to 
continue  this  correspondence ;  he  deems  it,  however,  his 
imperative  duty,  very  respectfully  to  demand  the  mean- 
ing of  that  passage  which  infers,  that  "the  fact  of  G 

J M P ,  late  of  Easton  and  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, being  Secretary  of  War,  is  a  sufficient  guarantee 
to  the  United  States  of  a  continued  peace  with  all  the 
■powers  of  the  earth" 

The  undersigned  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity  to 
renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and  respect, 
&c.  &c. 

H.  G.  Fox. 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  149 


Department  of  State, 

Washington,  July  10th,  1843. 

To  His  Excellency -,  the  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  of  Her  Britannic  Majesty. 

Sir  : — The  undersigned  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States,  has  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  the  1st  inst.,  in  reply  to 
his  of  the  28th  ult.,  which  was  in  answer  to  yours  of 
the  25th  ultimo. 

The  absence  of  the  undersigned  from  the  seat  of 
Government,  being  for  some  time  past  engaged  upon  an 
important  public  duty  relative  to  the  construction  of  a 
smoke  pipe  for  the  United  States  War  Steamer  Missouri, 
he  hopes  will  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  any  delay  in 
the  acknowledgment  of  your  communication. 

The  undersigned  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity 
to  renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and 
respect,  &c. 

,  Secretary  of  State. 


150  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Legation, 

Washington,  July  12,  1843. 

To  the  Honourable,  the    Secretary  of  State  of  the   United 
States. 

Sir  : — The  undersigned  has  the  honour  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  10th  inst.,  in 
■which  are  stated  as  reasons  for  any  delay  in  the  for- 
warding of  that  paper,  your  absence  from  the  seat  of 
Government,  and  engagement  with  a  "  smoke  pipe"  on 
board  the  United  States  War  Steamer  Missouri. 

With  a  belief  that  those  important  duties  are  now 
satisfactorily  concluded,  the  undersigned  begs  leave  to 
renew  his  application  for  a  definitive  answer  as  to  the 
meaning  of  the  concluding  paragraph  of  your  commu- 
nication, in  reply  to  one  from  this  Legation  of  the  25th 

ultimo,  referring  to  the  fact  that  "  G J M 

P ,  late  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  being  Secretary  of 

War,  is  a  guarantee  to  the  United  States  of  a  continued 
peace  with  all  the  powers  of  the  earth." 

The 'undersigned  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity 
to  renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and 
respect. 

H.  G.  Fox. 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  151 


Department  of  State, 

Washington,  July  17,  1843. 

1o  His  Excellency,  the  English  Envoy  and  Minister  Pleni- 
potentiary of  Her  Britannic  Majesty. 

Sir  : — The  undersigned,  Secretary  of  State,  has  the 
honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communica- 
tion of  the  10th  inst.,  in  which  you  are  pleased  to  remark 
the  important  public  duty  relative  to  the  smoke  pipe  of 
the  United  States  War  Steamer  Missouri,  upon  which 
the  undersigned  was  particularly  engaged,  is  now  satis- 
factorily arranged. 

The  undersigned  will  very  respectfully  beg  leave  to 
observe,  that  from  whatsoever  source  this  information 
may  have  been  received,  it  is  not  correct ;  that  "  smoke 
pipe"  is  still  an  object  of  interesting  embarrassment  to 
the  Executive. 

The  undersigned  begs  leave  to  enclose  for  your 
perusal  an  official  letter  received  this  day  from   Mr. 

E tt  at  London,  relative  to  an  insult  received  by  him 

at  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  avails  himself  of  the 
opportunity  to  renew  his  expressions  of  high  considera- 
tion and  respect,  &c. 

,  Secretary  of  State. 


152  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Legation, 

Washington,  July  18th,  1843. 

To  the  Honourable,  the  Secretary  of  State : 

Sjr  : — The  undersigned  has  the  honour  to  acknow- 
ledge the  receipt  of  a  communication  from  the  Secretary 
of  State  of  the  United  States  of  the  17th  inst.,  by  which 
the  undersigned  is  advised  that  the  information  received 
by  him  of  a  happy  termination  of  the  labours  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  upon  the  smoke  pipe 
of  the  War  Steamer  Missouri,  was  incorrect;  and  of 

the  inclosure  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  E tt,  the  Minister 

of  the  United  States  at  London,  relative  to  an  alleged 
insult  to  him  at  the  University  of  Oxford. 

The  undersigned  has  no  desire  to  complicate  this  cor- 
respondence.    He  begs  leave  to  return   Mr.  E tt's 

letter,  that  being  a  matter  for  the  consideration  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  her  Majesty's  ministers 
at  home,  and  the  United  States. 

The  undersigned  has  the  honour  to  renew  his  applica- 
tion for  an  explanation  of  that  paragraph  wherein  it  is 

stated  that  "  G—  J M P ,  late  of  Easton, 

and  State  of  Pennsylvania ;  being  Secretary  of  War,  is 
a  sufficient  guarantee  to  the  United  States  of  a  continued 
peace  with  all  the  powers  of  the  earth" 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  153 

The  undersigned  can  hardly  persuade  himself  that  a 
threat  is  meant  to  be  conveyed  in  this  solemn  annuncia- 
tion ;  yet  the  military  fame  of  the  Secretary  of  War  is 
such  as  to  lead  the  undersigned  to  a  different  and  far 
less  agreeable  conclusion.     The  glory  acquired  by  Mr. 

P ,  at  Shell-Pot,  and  in  many  bloody  Indian  wars, 

by  which  he  so  deservedly  acquired  the  title  of  the 
"  Great  Kickapoo,"  are  historical  facts  within  the  know- 
ledge of  the  undersigned.  Happily  the  Duke  of  Wel- 
lington yet  lives,  and  the  undersigned,  by  reminding  a 
foreign  power  of  that  fact,  would  assuredly  be  convey- 
ing a  menace  as  alarming  as  that  contained  in  the  ex- 
ceptionable passage  alluded  to. 

The  undersigned  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity 
to  renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and 
respect,  &c. 

H.  G.  Fox. 


11 


154  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Department  of  State, 

Washington,  July  21st,  1843. 

To  His  Excellency,  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Envoy  Extra- 
ordinary and  Minister  Plenipotentiary,  fyc. 

Sir  : — The  undersigned,  Secretary  of  State,  has  the 
honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  an  official  com- 
munication of  the  18th  inst.,  with  a  reiterated  demand 
for  an  explanation  of  the  meaning  of  the  concluding 
paragraph  of  a  letter  from  this  department  of  the 
25th  ult. 

With  a  sincere  desire  to  maintain  that  friendly  feeling 
existing  between  the  two  Governments,  so  happily  con- 
summated by  his  predecessor  in  office,  he  readily  accedes 
to  any  proposition  which  will  permanently  tend  to  cherish 
those  feelings.  But  the  undersigned  cannot  conveniently 
understand  how  this  correspondence  can  be  complicated, 
by  the  attention  of  Her  Majesty's  Envoy  being  called  to 
a  subject  of  such  lively  interest  to  the  Government,  and 
people  of  the  United  States,  as  an  insult  offered  to  Mr. 
E tt,  the  American  Minister  at  London. 

The  undersigned  is  aware,  that  the  delicate  matter 
alluded  to  is  a  subject  for  official  communication 
between  this  Government  and  Her  Majesty's  Ministers, 
and   has   already   given    the    subject    attention.     This 


OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  155 

Government  declines  any  official  communication  with 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  The  fact  of  the  youngest 
daughter  of  our  Minister  having  been  presented  at  Court 
by  the  Countess  of  Nothingburg  and  being  graciously 
received  by  Her  Britannic  Majesty  since  the  affair  at 
the  University  of  Oxford,  would  lead  the  undersigned  to 
believe  that  the  difficulty  has  been  happily  adjusted. 

The   undersigned  unequivocally  denies  any  intention 
to   convey  any  semblance  of  a  threat  to  her  Majesty's 

Envoy  in   that   passage   of  his   letter,   wherein  J 

M P is   alluded    to   as   a    guarantee  to   this 

Government  for  the  maintenance  of  peace  with  all  the 
powers  of  the  earth. 

The  civic  honours  of  the  Secretary  of  War  are  far 
superior  in  the  eyes  of  this  Government,  and  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  to  the  doubtful  laurels  that  adorn 
his  brow.  Grateful  as  the  people  of  these  United  States 
are  for  the  glory  achieved  by  him  not  only  at  Shell-Pot, 
but  in  the  Indian  wars  of  '40,  which  threatened  the 
Capital  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  devastated  and 
crippled  the  resources  of  that  thriving  Commonwealth, 
and  which  were  brought  to  a  crisis  by  his  genius  and 
the  powerful  aid  of  his  gallant  brother,  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  militia  of  Pennsylvania — matters  for  the 
historic  page,  the  details  of  which  are  well  known  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  of  which  her  Majesty's 
Envoy  can  form  but  an  imperfect  idea — yet  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him  by  the  Government  and  the  people 
arises  from  his  civic  virtues — the  purity  of  his  patriotism 
— his  self-denial  and  incorruptible  integrity,  and  his 
amiable  deportment,  always  the  concomitant  of  true 
bravery.     It  may  not  be  known  to  her  Majesty's  Envoy 


156  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 

that  he  has  refrained  from  challenging  the  waiter  at  a 
hotel  upon  a  question  of  soup,  and  meekly  bore  indigni- 
ties upon  a  matter  of  precedence  of  a  hack.  He  has 
practised  for  many  years  in  the  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Northampton  County  with  great  distinction,  and 
would  still  have  remained  there  had  he  not,  in  his  own 
emphatic  language,  been  certioraried  to  Washington  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States. 

With  such  a  man  at  the  head  of  the  War  Department, 
with  a  combination  of  so  many  excellent  virtues 
tempered  by  so  much  amiable  discretion  and  forbear- 
ance, Her  Majesty's  Envoy  will  properly  appreciate  the 
feeling  and  motive  which  dictated  the  expression  of  that 
paragraph,  which  the  undersigned  is  free  to  confess, 
without  this  satisfactory  explanation,  would  be  of  equi- 
vocal import. 

The  undersigned  likewise  earnestly  deprecates  any 
complication  of  this  correspondence  ;  the  introduction  of 
the  name  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  wherein  a  parallel 
is  sought  to  be  drawn  between  the  heroes  of  Shell-Pot 
and  Waterloo,  will  certainly  produce  that  effect  which 
Her  Majesty's  Envoy  and  the  undersigned  had  better 
avoid.  And  he  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity  to 
renew  his  expressions  of  high  consideration  and  respect. 


Secretary  of  State. 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON, 

A  LINEAL  DESCENDANT  FROM  OLD  ISAAC  WALTON,  THE 
ANGLER  ;  WHOSE  PISCATORY  EFFUSIONS  ARE  SO  RENOWNED 
IN  THE  LITERARY  WORLD. 


LETTER  I. 

Hog  Hollow,  Tuesday,  August  1st,  1843. 

Dear  Sir: — Numerous  correspondents  from  various 
watering  places  are  pouring  forth  their  epistolary  effu- 
sions, each  one  with  unsparing  hand  lavishing  praise 
not  only  upon  the  scenery  of  his  particular  locale,  but 
upon  the  exalted  character  of  the  host,  who  is  described 
as  a  perfect  Mecsenas  in  all  the  admirable  qualities  that 
can  adorn  human  nature,  whilst  his  table  is  diurnally 
a  feast  for  the  gods:  the  bare  recital  of  the  dainties 
would  make  even  the  mouth  of  Apicius  water. 

After  perusing  these  various  letters  for  the  last  fort- 
night, and  devouring  their  contents — which  so  far  from 
fattening  me  has  had  a  contrary  effect — I  have  deter- 
mined to  quit  Hog  Hollow,  a  sweet  little  rural  spot  on 
the  banks  of  Rum  Creek,  where  I  had  domiciliated  with 
the  intention  there  to  sojourn  in  exclusive  rusticity  during 
the  hot  weather. 


158  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC   WALTON. 

I  pine  for  a  view  of  the  Capes,  with  its  magnificent 
display  of  five  hundred  red  flannel  shirts  dipping  under 
the  curling  wave.  I  long  for  a  glance  at  the  exquisites 
of  Saratoga,  or  for  a  view  of  the  Rip-Raps,  that  American 
St.  Helena,  where  great  men  seek  a  temporary  relief 
from  the  cares  of  state  and  office-seekers. 

O !  that  I  had  never  read  those  eloquent  epistles, 
ievdently  the  spontaneous  flow  of  disinterested  feeling. 
I  should  still  be  engaged  in  the  peaceful  and  humble 
rural  sports  of  Hog  Hollow — assisting  the  boys  to  club 
chickens  for  supper,  or  moralizing  over  the  remains  of 
decapitated  roosters,  who  but  a  brief  space  since  were 
strutting  about  in  all  the  pride  of  plumage. 

Remorseless  Betty  !  "  will  not  one  suffice  ?"  I  have 
been  tempted  to  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  Metem- 
psychosis, and  that  the  spirits  of  St.  Just,  Marat  and 
Robespierre  are  infused  into  that  susceptible  body. 
But  a  moment  since,  O !  Chicken !  thou  wert  in  all  the 
pride  of  Roostership, — chop — away  flies  thy  head — 
what  amazing  gyrations !  what  wonderful  pirouettes  ! 
and  where  are  you  now  ?  melancholy  reflection ! 
cheered,  however,  with  the  consolatory  thought  that 
ere  nightfall  thou  wilt  be  comfortably  established  in  the 
abdomen  of  a  restless  reporter. 

Farewell,  Rum  Creek,  and  you,  gentle  decapitating 
Betty,  a  long  farewell.  Farewell  to  those  shelving 
banks,  where  for  so  many  hours  I  have  watched  the 
cork  of  my  fishing-line  with  feverish  delight,  and  the 
small  circles  diverge  from  its  painted  sides  as  it  bubbled 
upon  the  placid  pool. 

Surely  I  was  not  deceived — perhaps  some  migratory 
fly,  these  Bedouins  of  the  insect  tribe,  had  touched,  en 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  159 

passant,  the  apex  of  the  quill— no,  there  it  is  again,  a 
palpable  bite,  I  can  no  longer  doubt  the  fact — it  is  a  nib- 
ble,—and  what  a  glorious  one  !  All  the  energies  of  my 
mind  and  body  at  that  moment  were  concentrated  into 
the  handle  of  the  rod.  I  mesmerised  the  cork  !  perhaps 
under  that  mysterious  influence  I  may  have  infused  my 
will  into  that  heretofore  little  senseless  spherical  body  ! 
there's  a  discovery  which  may  outrival  the  falling  pippin. 

See  how  it  dances — it  bobbles  under  and  popples  up  and 
down — I  become  delirious  with  excitement — shall  I  pull 
up,  or  hold  on  a  little  longer  1  Shade  of  Isaac  Walton, 
come  to  the  aid  of  thy  disciple  !  The  world  of  Rum 
Creek  becomes  animated  with  a  sort  of  Der  Freyschutz 
enchantment !  the  wood-pecker  taps  the  old  oaks  with 
such  phrensy  as  to  waken  the  whole  forest!  the  shrill 
cry  of  the  blue-jay  becomes  a  scream  !  whilst  the  solemn 
kingfisher,  whose  ancient  prescriptive  piscatory  right  I 
had  invaded,  with  piercing  eye,  from  his  dead  twig 
watches  the  coming  event.  The  cork  disappears — 
"  Haul  up,  Ike,  or  you're  a  lost  man"— at  that  moment, 
a  frog,  the  slimy  miscreant,  cried— tung !  and  with  out- 
stretched arms  and  legs  plunges  into  the  stream  !  the 
charm  is  broken  !  high  in  air  fly  my  heels  with  hook  and 
line,  but  no  finny  inhabitant  of  Rum  Creek  was  attached 
thereto.  Disappointed,  but  not  crushed,  I  disperse  some 
myriads  of  musquitoes — those"  light  militia  of  the  lower 
sky,"  who  have  been  uttering  their  war-cries  in  my 
ear — and  renew  my  efforts  with  the  like  excitement  and 
success. 

I  have  been  in  many  a  trying  scene  of  peril !  I  have 
stepped,  in  all  the  pride  of  apparel,  upon  the  side  of  a 
receding  boat,  in  the  presence  of  a  concourse  of  ladies, 


160  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

with  the  vain  hope  by  muscular  contraction  of  keeping 
it  to  shore,  until  stretched  almost  to  splitting,  like  an 
extended  compass,  I  have  resigned  the  conflict  and  sunk 
in  four  fathoms,  my  short  coat-tail  being  the  first  that 
touched  the  water  !  there  is  some  excitement  in  that,  and 
perhaps  some  mortification.  I  have  been  chased  by  a 
mad  bull  down  a  long  lane,  with  a  high  fence  on  either 
side,  running  with  such  superhuman  speed  as  made  my 
coat-tail  project  horizontally  from  my  body — there  is 
some  excitement  there  too,  and  a  modicum  of  peril,  but 
no  wise  compared  to  the  excitement  of  a  glorious  nibble 
— after  ten  days'  fishing  in  Rum  Creek  without  a  bite. 

Shooting,  the  kindred  sport  to  fishing,  the  relationship 
derived,  I  suppose,  from  the  amphibious  character  of  the 
former,  has,  I  am  free  to  confess,  its  excitements,  but  in 
no  wise  compared  to  the  latter.  I  have  chased  meadow- 
larks  over  an  hundred  acre  field  in  the  month  of  August 
with  doubtful  success — I  have  laid  at  full  length,  watch- 
ing  a  chance  for  a  shot  at  one  of  those  suspicious  crea- 
tures which  appear  to  be  informed,  with  mathematical 
precision,  of  the  precise  distance  for  safety  from  the  muz- 
zle of  a  gun,  whilst  every  variety  of  the  insect  tribe  were 
busily  devouring  and  torturing  the  exposed  parts  of  my 
body — there  is  a  little  excitement  when  the  bird  lights 
within  ten  feet  of  you — when  with  trembling  hand  you 
pull  the  trigger,  and  are  rewarded  by  an  unequivocal 
snap.  All  these  various,  and  delightful,  and  intellectual 
amusements,  I  am  about  to  abandon  for  a  new  career  of 
pleasure.  Upon  my  arrival  at  a  fashionable  resort  you 
shall  hear  from 

Your  friend, 

Isaac  Walton,  Jr. 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  161 


LETTER  II. 

Old  Point  Comfort,  August  2d,  1843. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  see  you  have  published  my  letter  dated 
from  Hog  Hollow,  but  what  awful  mistakes  your  compo- 
sitor has  made  ;  do,  I  beseech  you,  be  a  leetle  more  care- 
ful. Now  confess  the  fact,  my  epistle  was  slurred  over 
because  of  the  place  I  hailed  from  ;  a  fellow  that  writes 
from  such  a  place  as  Hog  Hollow  is  nobody.  Hog 
Hollow,  what  a  vulgar  place !  and  to  write  a  long  chap- 
ter about  a  nibble,  "  did  you  ever !"  now  if  it  had  come 
from  "Saratoga,"  or  some  such  dashing  place,  do  confess, 
my  dear  Mr.  Editor,  that  you  would  have  treated  the 
epistle  with  more  respect.  I  am  now,  you  see,  at  Old 
Point  Comfort ;  but  why  it  is  so  called  I  cannot  tell.  I 
have  not  enjoyed  a  bit  of  comfort  since  I  have  been  here. 
Some  aged  maiden  ladies  from  Hampton,  with  whom  I 
have  conversed,  say  that  in  the  olden  time,  when  hard 
beset  by  the  British,  a  temporary  comfort  was  found  in 
the  Fort  here — no  doubt  that  is  the  origin  of  the  name. 
Some  urged  me  to  go  to  the  White  Sulphur,  some  to  the 
Red  Sulphur,  the  latter  I  positively,  politely,  but  peremp- 
torily declined — where  is  the  use  of  anticipating  these 
things. 

I  wish  I  was  back  at  Hog  Hollow,  fishing  in  Rum 


162  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

Creek.  I  want  some  excitement — there  is  none  here.  I 
came  by  the  usual  mode  of  conveyance,  railroad  and 
steamboats.  A  little  incident  occurred  upon  the  way, 
hardly  worth  mentioning,  nor  would  I  mention  it,  but 
for  the  loss  of  my  fishing-rod,  which  was  cruelly  muti- 
lated by  the  shock.  The  two  opposite  trains,  loaded  with 
passengers,  managed  by  admirable  calculation  to  meet 
half  way,  whilst  running  at  the  rate  each  of  twenty  miles 
an  hour.  There  was  a  crash,  a  splintering  of  bones  and 
baggage,  and  some  few  women,  and  children,  and  helpless 
old  people  put  liors  du  combat,  but  nothing  serious,  except 
the  destruction  and  delay  of  the  mail,  and  the  ruin  of 
my  fishing-rod.  The  conductor  behaved  with  such 
coolness  upon  the  occasion,  that  the  survivors  talk  of 
presenting  him  with  a  piece  of  plate  in  testimony  of  their 
gratitude,  &c.  I  was  projected  with  amazing  force  the 
whole  length  of  the  car,  and  no  doubt  would  have  been 
killed,  had  it  not  been  for  the  providential  interference  of 
a  very  respectable  fat  old  gentleman's  waistcoat,  which 
received  my  head  cushion-wise :  it  was  like  firing  a 
cannon-shot  into  a  bale  of  cotton.  He  was  the  only  one 
injured  in  our  car,  how  he  got  hurt  I  never  heard,  but  he 
complained  bitterly  of  a  pain  in  the  epigastric  region, 
which  was  awfully  caved  in,  with  a  corresponding  cur- 
vature of  the  back  bone.  I  feel  very  grateful  to  that  old 
gentleman,  and  should  like  to  present  him  with  a  piece 
of  plate,  but  it  will  be  a  long  time,  I  am  afraid,  before 
any  one  will  dare  to  present  him  with  any  thing  in  the 
shape  of  a  plate.  In  future,  when  travelling  by  railroad, 
I  intend  always  to  locate  myself  in  "  point-blank  range" 
of  some  fat  old  gentleman  to  pitch  into.  A  good  many 
others   aimed   at  him,  for  I  heard  their  heads  crack 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  163 

against  the  partition  all  round  him,  but  I  was  the  only 
one  that  hit  the  mark.  There  was  a  little  excitement 
for  awhile,  for  the  car  was  standing  up  on  end,  and  all 
the  people  rolled  to  the  bottom  like  apples  in  a  barrel — 
we  were  much  tangled  together;  I  remonstrated  with  a 
fellow  who  was  hauling  upon  my  leg,  fearing  he  might 
pull  it  out  by  the  socket;  he  however  desisted,  and  very 
handsomely  apologized,  supposing  it  to  be  his  own. 

But  you  should  have  seen  the  locomotives;  they  were 
standing  upon  their  hind  legs  face  to  face,  hissing  and 
fizzing  at  each  other  in  the  most  awful  manner,  with 
bushels  of  red-hot  coals  tumbling  from  their  hinder 
parts.  The  breath  was  knocked  out  of  one  entirely,  but 
the  other  though  very  much  injured  still  showed  fight : 
and  I  believe,  if  he  could  have  got  upon  all  fours  again 
would  have  jaunted  on  in  spite  of  every  thing.  The 
unfortunate  people,  whose  duty  it  is  to  feed  the  passions 
of  those  excitable  creatures,  must  have  fallen  victims 
to  their  own  temerity,  for  they  have  not  since  been 
heard  of. 

Before  I  commence  a  description  of  passing  events 
here,  I  will  give  you  a  brief  detail  of  my  visit  to  the  war 
steamer  Missouri,  with  a  view  to  report  the  proceedings 
of  the  Court  Martial,  commenced  on  board  that  ship  to 
try  the  smoke  pipes  for  disobedience  of  orders.  There 
were  forty-nine  specifications  in  the  charges,  but  the 
three  principal  ones,  were  "  disorderly  conduct  unbe- 
coming a  smoke  pipe,  disobedience  of  orders,  and  wast- 
ing of  the  public  funds."  The  general  impression  is,  that 
the  defence  is  a  good  one,  that  the  general  conduct  of  the 
defendant,  anterior  to  the  cutting  down,  was  exemplary 
in   every  respect,  and   that   all  subsequent   matter  the 


164  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

defendant  was  in  no  way  responsible  for.  Experiment 
upon  experiment  had  been  tried,  but  to  no  purpose, — 
first,  the  pipes  were  cut  off,  that  would  not  do, — then 
they  were  raised  up  higher  than  before,  that  would  not 
do, — then  they  were  docked  close  off  to  the  deck  and 
carried  through  the  wheel  house,  that  was  decidedly  the 
worst  experiment  that  had  yet  been  tried  ;  the  crew 
came  up  coughing  and  sneezing  with  tears  in  their 
eyes,  beseeching  a  little  fresh  air  to  save  them  from 
suffocation. 

The  poor  Secretary  was  perfectly  at  his  wit's  end  ; 
here  was  twenty  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
dollars,  and  fifty-four  cents,  gone,  and  all  for  nothing — 
and  Mr.  Gushing,  the  Minister  to  China  waiting  to  start, 
with  all  his  suite  crowding  on  board,  under  the  instruc- 
tions that  gentleman  had  received  from  Mr.  Webster, 
which  were  published  in  your  paper.  The  presents  to 
the  Emperor  were  piled  upon  deck — boxes  of  wooden 
hams  and  nutmegs,  miniature  specimens  of  New  Eng- 
land tin-carts,  with  loads  of  tin  ware  and  wooden  clocks 
without  number.  The  copy  of  the  bed  upon  which 
Bolts  and  the  President  slept,  attracted  great  attention, 
and  is  really  a  very  beautiful  specimen  of  the  fine  arts. 
Besides,  there  were  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  Mission, 
selected  from  the  various  sects,  to  ameliorate  the  con- 
dition of  the  Chinese.  They  had  thrown  the  whole 
neighbourhood  into  confusion,  each  one  practising  upon 
the  unhappy  district,  urging  most  vehemently  his  own 
peculiar  tenets,  until  with  one  accord  the  whole  popula- 
tion rose  upon  them,  and  to  prevent  bloodshed,  they 
were  confined  to  the  ship.  They  were  all  in  high  debate 
when  I  was  last  on  board ;  I  never  heard  such  a  racket : 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  165 

the  six  reporters  were  busy  taking  notes, — a  fine  body 
of  youths  and  full  of  enthusiasm. 

You  may  imagine  the  confusion ;  with  all  these  evils 
accumulating  every  moment  upon  the  Secretary,  I  saw 
him  tumble  over  a  huge  pile  of  something.  I  stepped 
aside,  for  fear  he  might  pitch  into  me,  as  I  had  done  to 
the  fat  gentleman  on  board  the  cars,  but  he  gathered 
himself  up,  and  inquired  what  the  d — 1  they  were  ? 

"  They  are  soporifics,  sir." 

"What?" 

"  Soporifics,  sir.  Debates  of  Congress,  and  files  of  the 
Madisonian." 

"  O,  aye,  yes  ;  I  recollect  now  !  the  Opium  Question 
— very  good ;  but  why  don't  you  put  all  these  things  in 
the  hold." 

"  Can't  sir,  till  the  smoke  pipes  done,  sir." 

"What's  this?" 

"  That,  sir." 

"  Yes,  that." 

"  O  !  that's  a  picture  as  large  as  life,  of ,  our 

Secretary  of  War." 

"  Turn  it  over,  let's  look  at  it — it's  very  like ;  how 
fierce  he  looks !    Is  that  the  dress  he  wore  at  Shell-Pot  V 

"  The  very  same,  sir." 

"  But  what's  that  in  his  left  hand  ?" 

"That,  sir?" 

"  Yes,  that." 

"  O  that's  his  smoke  pipe  ;  the  Secretary  of  War  has 
a  smoke  pipe  as  well  as  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

The  Secretary  here  said  pensively,  "  What  the  d S 

has  he  to  do  with  such  things  V* 

"  Why,  bless  your  heart,  sir,  that's  his  emblem  as  the 


166  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

great  Kickapoo,  a  title  he  acquired  in  the  Indian  wars 
of  his  native  State,  you  know." 

"  Aye,  yes,  yes,  I  recollect  now.  He  has  a  bold, 
martial  air ;  the  man  that  refused  him  soup  at  Provi- 
dence, must  have  been  a  fool-hardy  fellow." 

"  You  know,  sir,  it  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  Cushing, 
under  instructions,  to  give  the  Emperor  some  idea  of 
our  warlike  character— when  Elepoo  sees  that,  but  he'll 
tremble." 

"  I  think  he'd  tremble  a  little  more,"  said  the  Secre- 
tary gloomily,  "  if  he  see'd  my  smoke  pipe." 

Here  an  officer  cried  out.  "  Boatswain,  pipe  all  hands 
below." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir ;"  but  with  a  horrid  grin  he  remarked, 
"  they  had  just  been  all  piped  up." 

"  None  of  your  levity,  sir,"  says  the  Judge,  sharply, 
"  and  stop  that  jabbering  forward  there." 

"  Why,  Judge,"  said  the  officer  deprecatingly,  "  that's 
impossible  ;  it's  the  ameliorators." 
«  The  what  V9 

(<  The  gentlemen  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the 
Chinese." 

Preparations  were  being  made  to  receive  the  Presi- 
dent, who  was  about  to  visit  the  vessel  with  all  his 
cabinet.  Our  attention  of  course  was  drawn  off  by  the 
imposing  spectacle.  I  took  my  station  near  the  bow,  as 
the  most  prominent  point  of  view. 

It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  to  see  the  boats  skimming  so 
gracefully  over  the  broad  Potomac,  stretching  the  long 
glittering  oars  with  clock-like  precision  and  dashing 
aside  the  spray.  There  was,  however,  an  unsailor-like 
movement  in  the  crew  of  the  President's  boat,  a  sort  of 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  167 

"  daddy  mammy"  expression,  which  somewhat  destroyed 
the  tout  ensemble  movement  of  the  cortege.  I  afterwards 
understood  that  the  crew  was  composed  entirely  of 
office-seekers,  who  had  volunteered  their  services  with 
the  vain  hope  of  particularly  attracting  attention  ;  though 
not  very  unanimous,  yet  they  pulled  vigorously,  and  but 
for  a  trifling  mishap,  would  have  come  in  with  eclat. 
{Tout  ensemble,  cortege,  eclat,  &c,  are  the  fashionable 
words,  and  very  vulgar  to  use  any  other.)  The  heels  of 
one  of  the  rowers  flew  into  the  air,  the  oar  dropping 
into  the  water. 

"  That  fellow's  caught  a  crab,"  said  a  sailor  standing 
near  me. 

"  Caught  a  what  ?" 

"  Caught  a  crab,  sir.  He's  pulled  his  oar  out  of  the 
pins,  turned  a  complete  somerset,  and  knocked  the  Secre- 
tary of  War's  hat  off.  But  here  they  come,  now  for  the 
salute  of  twenty-four  guns." 

It  was  grand  and  quite  exciting. 

•«  Starboard,  fire  !"  hiss-s,  flash,  bang,  boom,  awar,  boo 
loo. 

The  smoke  rolled  out  over  the  water,  and  then  curled 
itself  comfortably  in  a  heap  as  if  waiting  for  the  other 
roarers.  "  Port,  fire" — slap-bang!  went  another  from 
the  other  side,  the  smoke  performing  the  same  evolutions, 
with  the  exception  of  a  fanciful  circle  which  whirled  up 
into  the  air,  twirling  round  like  a  hoop  till  it  gradually 
dispersed.  I  was  in  a  perfect  ecstasy  of  excitement,  it 
beat  Rum  Creek.  Now  I  wanted  the  gun  to  go  off'; 
then  I  held  on  with  breath  and  hand;  just  as  I  pulled  my 
thumbs  out  of  my  ears  slap  bang  it  would  come,  jarring 
every  nerve  in  my  body.   It  certainly  is  a  very  inspiring 


168  LETTEBS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

sound,  but  it  must  be  awful  to  have  one  pointed  right  at 
you,  discharging  something  more  solid  than  smoke,  let 
alone  to  be  rammed  down  into  one  to  the  tune  I  suppose 
of "  home,  sweet  home,"  as  was  the  French  Consul  at 
Algiers. 

The  President  came  alongside ;  "  such  a  getting  up 
stairs."  No  sooner  had  his  nose  peeped  over  the  gang- 
way, but  every  one  vied  with  the  other  to  bow  and 
scrape.  After  examining  the  ship,  and  talking  much 
about  the  smoke  pipe  with  the  Secretary,  he  descended 
into  the  cabin — where  I  shall  leave  him  for  the  present, 
having  spun  my  letter  out  to  an  unusual  length. 

I  have  picked  up  a  queer  document  howrever,  which 
must  have  dropt  from  the  pocket  of  some  of  the  great 
functionaries — something  about  Lord  Aberdeen,  Mr. 
Everett  and  the  Oxford  University.  No  one  would  take 
it.  I  very  respectfully  presented  it  to  the  President,  but 
he  waived  it  aside  with  evident  marks  of  disgust,  and 
said  "  Go  to  my  son,  he  attends  to  all  such  applications" 
After  I  have  perused  it,  I  will  send  it  to  you  to  do  with 
it  as  you  please. 

Your  friend, 

Isaac  Walton,  Jr. 
Late  of  Hog  Hollow. 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  J  69 


LETTER  III. 

Old  Point  Comfort,  August  12,  1843. 

A  great  many  queer  things  have  transpired  since  I 
last  wrote  to  you,  but  I  am  fearful  they  are  hardly  worth 
a  recital ;  they  want,  in  my  estimation,  excitement, 
which  seasoning  can  only  be  found  in  my  favourite  sport, 
fishing.  None  of  your  primitive  hauls  of  fish  for  me; 
no  casting  of  leads,  with  a  dozen  hooks  attached,  to  the 
slimy  bottom  of  a  great  river,  cramped  up  in  a  wabbling 
boat — sickening  for  hours  over  the  water,  with  the 
flickering  reflected  rays  of  the  sun  dancing  a  hornpipe 
in  your  eyes.  When  you  do  get  a  bite,  it  is  like  shaking 
hands  with  a  catfish,  an  animal,  in  my  opinion,  no  wise 
companionable,  and  perfectly  destitute  of  personal  beauty, 
though  they  have  their  admirers.  But,  a  secluded  rural 
spot,  upon  the  banks  of  a  placid  stream,  near  a  little 
tinkling  waterfall,  just  noise  enough  to  make  you  feel 
drowsy,  without  putting  you  to  sleep.  Gently  to  twirl 
your  hair  line  into  that  cool  brook  that 

"  Purls  along  the  vocal  grove," 

the  cork  luxuriously  reclining  upon  its  side  until  awaked 
from  its  slumber  by  a  fascinating  little  pull  at  the  bait; 

12 


170  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

it  then  starts  up,  wide  awake,  curtseying  so  prettily  and 
gracefully,  dimpling  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  tiny 
waves  circling  to  the  sedgy  shore,  where  you  can  hear 
the  liquid  rogues  chuckling  with  delight  amongst  the 
little  round  pebbles. 

Occasionally  your  privacy  is  intruded  upon  by  a  sand- 
snipe,  but  not  rudely ;  the  prints  of  his  delicate  feet  are 
scarcely  perceptible  upon  the  yellow  sandy  nook,  the 
frame  to  a  bright  mirror  into  which  he  first  looks  at 
himself,  then  playfully  at  you,  gently  cries  "peep," — 
bobs  up  his  little  tail,  down  goes  his  litte  head,  and  there 
he  stands  bowing  with  the  air  and  grace  of  a  dancing- 
master  ;  such  a  polite  little  fellow  ; — up  goes  his  tail, 
down  goes  his  head — "  peep— how  are  you? — beg  par- 
don !" — and  away  he  skims  with  silver  wing,  tipping  the 
surface  of  the  water. 

O, Rum  Creek  ! — but  no  matter,  let  us  drop  this;  I  am 
getting  "  entusimuzzy"  into  a  sort  of  arm-chair  senti- 
mentality. 

But  what  is  this  ?  the  water  is  getting  muddy — some- 
thing is  coming  right  down  the  middle  of  my  creek. 
"  Hallo  there,  you'll  frighten  all  the  fish  !"  O,  Lord  ! — 
the  next  moment  I  was  playing  Charles  II.  from  the 
branch  of  a  lofty  oak.  How  I  got  there,  I  could  never 
divine,  because  I  am  a  miserable  climber ;  in  going  down 
I  am  amazingly  happy,  having  a  natural  tendency  that 
way.  It  was  a  great  thick-necked,  curly-headed,  sharp- 
horned  bull,  and  the  beast  with  cloven  foot  strode  over 
my  rod,  smelt  the  ground  and  my  hat,  then  curled  up 
his  nose  with  malicious  grin,  no  doubt  saying  to  himself, 
"but  if  I  had  you  here,  wouldn't  I  treat  you  to  a  small 
horn  or  two" — and  there  he  stood  for  two  long  hours, 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  171 

he  chewing  the  "  sweet  cud,"  and  I  the  "  bitter  fancy," 
and  from  his  sides, 

"  The  troublous  insects  lashes  with  his  tail, 
Returning  still" 

pretending  all  the  while  to  be  unconscious  of  my  pre- 
sence. No,  no,  my  Lord  Durham  or  Earl  of  Oxford,  I 
am  up  to  "  slum"  as  well  as  "  tree."  At  last  he  retired, 
but  methought 

"  With  lingering  steps  and  slow." 

With  respectful  and  silent  attention  did  I  watch  his 
progress  through  the  bushes, — caught  one  tender  glance 
of  his  retreating  sirloin  and  whisking  tail  ere  he  dis- 
appeared from  view.  Then  with  an  affectionate  em- 
brace of  my  rough  protector,  I  scraped  down  his  knotty 
sides  in  a  manner  so  little  remarkable  for  dexterity  and 
grace  that  my  a-plomb  was  not  exactly  a-la-Fanny  Elssler; 
an  indenture  in  the  soft  soil  was  very  prettily  and  accu- 
rately delineated,  and  of  such  capacity  as  clearly 
showed  what  part  of  my  tender  frame  first  touched 
mother  earth. 

Such  are  the  excitements  incident  to  my  sport,  com- 
pared to  which  how  flat  and  insipid  the  round  of  life, 
whether  mingling  as  I  did  on  board  a  war  steamer  with 
the  great  functionaries  of  the  land,  running  a  muck  be- 
tween two  furious  locomotives,  listening  to  the  inspired 
eloquence  of  the  great  Kickapoo  at  Bunker  Hill,  or 
pitching  into  the  waistcoat  of  a  soft  old  gentleman, 
whose  rotundity  a  benign  providence  had  interposed  be- 
tween my  cranium  and  the  hard  planks  of  a  railroad  car. 
I  saw  that  amiable  old  man  here,  he  is  swelling  up  again, 


172  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

—but  slowly ;  he  will  ere  long  again  be  a  respectable 
target,  but  he  is  still  able  to  look  down  through  his  waist- 
coat to  his  shoe-tie. 

By-the-by,  we  were  cheered  with  the  prospect  of  re- 
ceiving a  visit  at  this  place  from  that  gallant  chief  the 
Secretary  of  War.  Great  preparations  were  made  for 
his  reception;  but  he  never  came.  We  afterwards 
heard  that  with  that  amiable  and  dignified  attention 
which  characterizes  his  private  as  well  as  official  cha- 
racter, he  is  visiting  the  different  Senators  at  their  re- 
spective abodes.  There  is  something  so  unaffectedly 
condescending  in  this,  so  guileless ;  it  is  the  meed  of 
respect  which  valour  and  glory  in  the  field  pays  to  in- 
tellect. I  repeat  again,  it  is  quite  affecting — and  no 
doubt  properly  appreciated  by  those  grave  and  reverend 
signiors.     What  has  the  hero  of  Shell-Pot  to  gain  from 

visiting  Mr.  C in  Delaware,  or  Mr.  L of  Mis- 

souri,  now  happily  at  Philadelphia !  Nothing.  To  be 
sure,  the  Senate  has  the  confirmation  of  his  appointment 
as  Secretary  of  War — but  that  amounts  to  a  moral  cer- 
tainty— his  civic  virtues  and  military  glory  have  secured 
him  that.  Besides,  imagine  what  a  fire  from  that  masked 
battery  of forty  Democratic  newspapers  in  Pennsylvania. 
Why,  the  very  river  Lehigh  would  overflow  its  banks 
with  indignation.  No,  I  again  repeat,  it  is  quite  affecting, 
and  an  incident  worth  treasuring  up.  It  will  hereafter 
without  meaning  to  be  rhetorical,  with  a  slight  pull  upon 
the  hair-trigger  of  reflection,  shoot  a  gleam  across  the 
historic  page. 

Did  I  tell  you  that  I  had  seen  Mr.  C 's  ambas- 
sadorial coat?  It  is  very  magnificent,  but  between  us 
there  is  too  much  tin  foil  upon  it ;  the  embroidery  is  so 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  173 

very  elaborate,  I  have  not  time  to  describe  it  to  you ; 
upon  another  occasion  I  may  lake  the  opportunity  so  to 
do.  Like  the  shield  of  Achilles,  it  demands  an  ode  in 
Homeric  verse. 

I  regret  that  I  have  been  compelled  to  delay  sending 
you  the  document  relative  to  the  correspondence  between 
Lord  Aberdeen,  the  Archbishop  of  Armagh  and  Canter- 
bury, and  Mr.  E ,  but  there  is  a  great  deal  of  it  in 

Latin,  and  I  have  had  to  employ  a  corporal  of  the  Fort 
here,  who  was  once  a  schoolmaster  down  East,  to  trans- 
late it.  Fitz  Roy  Fitzgubyns,  the  British  Secretary  of 
Legation,  is  here,  and  quite  a  lion.  He  evidently  plumes 
himself  upon  the  late  controversy  with  our  government 
upon  the  subject  of  the  exceptionable  passage  relative  to 
the  Secretary  of  War;  he  is  as  close  as  wax  upon  all 
diplomatic  matters,  but  admits  that  the  reply  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  was  perfectly  satisfactory  to  the 
British  government.  I  regret  that  he  is  about  to  leave  us 
He  is  but  temporarily  attached  to  the  Legation,  being  a 
naval  officer.  He  states  that  he  is  ordered  to  a  com- 
mand on  board  the  Thunderer,  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  ships  in  Her  Majesty's  service.  In  case  of  a  colli- 
sion between  the  two  countries,  it  is  to  be  hoped  he  will 
not  be  so  successful  in  battle,  as  in  diplomacy. 

In  haste,  your  friend, 

Isaac  Walton,  Jr. 


174  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 


LETTER  IV. 

Hog  Hollow,  near  Rum  Creek,  September  9th,  1843. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  have  been  so  whirled  about  in  railroad 
cars,  steamboats  and  stages,  since  you  last  heard  from 
me,  that  I  scarcely  know  whether  I  stand  upon  my 
heels  or  head,  and  this  is  called  pleasuring.  What  pos- 
sible pleasure  people  can  find  in  such  pursuits,  to  me  is 
utterly  inconceivable.  Now  there  is  not  only  intellec- 
tual excitement  in  my  fishing,  I  mean  Rum  Creek  sport, 
but  luxurious  ease.  The  body  is  perfectly  quiescent — 
there  is  no  physical  annoyance,  nothing  to  disturb 
attention;  the  mind  wanders  along  the  pliant  rod,  and 
gently  descends  an  inclined  plane  of  hair  line  to  the 
buoyant  cork — the  "point  oVappui"  of  thought,  from 
whence  spiritual  parties  are  sent  forth  to  forage  upon 
the  surrounding  districts,  teeming  with  natural  beauties; 
— a  piscatory  throne  where  fancy  reigns  in  sovereign 
tranquillity,  disturbed  only  by  a  momentary  pull  at  the 
worm  which  writhes  beneath,  now  a  lure  for  little  fishes, 
but  the  predestined  devourer  of  both  kings  and  cow- 
boys. 

The  mental  excitement  and  fascination  of  the  sport  is 
explained  by  the  self-evident  principles  of  Rum  Creek 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTOA*.  175 

metaphysics,  affording  at  the  same  time,  perhaps,  a  solu- 
tion of  the  mysteries  of  mesmeric  influence. 

The  soul  of  the  fisherman  is  wandering  up  and  down 
the  rod,  from  handle  to  cork,  and  cork  to  handle ;  the 
former  being  a  non-conductor,  attention  fixes  it  there ;  a 
nibble  startles  it  back  to  the  domicile  with  electrical 
speed,  the  emotion  or  thrill  increasing  or  diminishing  in 
a  ratio  with  the  force  of  the  bite.  This  satisfactorily 
explains  the  wonderful  patience  of  the  angler,  who, 
motionless  as  a  statue,  will  sit  for  hours  waiting  for  a 
bite.  Hope  deferred  with  him,  never  maketh  the  heart 
sick.  His  spirit  is  on  the  cork,  from  whence  radiate 
all  sorts  of  pleasing,  dreamy  fancies. 

Now  compare  these  quiet  enjoyments  with  a  stage- 
ride  for  instance.  My  last  trip  is  a  fair  sample,  where 
nothing  was  left  from  the  tangible  reality  of  the  passing 
misery.  Hard  convex  leathery  seats,  and  a  strap  to 
sharpen  up  an  aching  spine,  with  eighteen  legs  held  in 
joint  tenancy  by  nine  sleepy  heads,  and  jammed  into  a 
rumbling  stage-coach  ;  it  is,  as  one  might  say,  the  sub- 
limation, the  chemical  analysis  of  human  misery.  In 
the  depths  of  that  profound  dejection,  from  some  remote 
corner  of  your  paralysed  frame,  the  scintillation  of 
relief  in  the  shape  of  a  break-down  or  an  upset,  glimmers 
for  a  moment  like  a  dip  candle  from  the  bottom  of  a 
damp  well,  and  is  extinguished. 

To  be  nodded  at  all  night  by  a  bald  pate !  How  often 
with  benevolent  hand  have  I  replaced  that  revolving 
pumpkin  upon  the  shoulders  of  its  owner,  with  the  vain 
hope  that  some  latent  energy  would  revive  in  the  body 
to  keep  it  there.  And  now  see  how  disgustingly  it 
lollops  over  the  strap,  the  hinges  of  the  jaws  give  way, 


176  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

exposing  the  deep  recesses  of  a  cavern,  the  receptacle 
for  a  breakfast  forty  miles  off. 

Imagine  my  delight  when  at  the  last  stage  these 
eighteen  legs  walked  off  with  those  nine  heads,  leaving 
my  couple  in  the  undisputed  sovereignty  of  that  infinite 
space  included  in  six  feet  by  three.  O !  won't  I  stretch 
out  and  revel  in  the  joys  of  a  back  seat !  Infatuated, 
wretched  traveller,  "  rattling  in  a  stage  coach,  tavern 
afar  off,"  little  do  you  know  the  various  powers  of  the 
machine  to  disgust,  annoy  and  terrify. 

Under  the  pleasing  influence  of  ham  and  eggs,  hot 
water  tinctured  with  coffee,  and  the  solemn  attention  of 
the  landlord's  daughter,  who  kindly  inquires  whether 
she  "  shall  milk  you  or  will  you  milk  yourself?"  at  the 
cry  from  without  of  "  yer-all-1  read-ee-e,"  I  step  forth 
in  all  the  dignity  of  the  passenger.  The  door  is  slammed 
to  upon  my  fingers ;  my  howls  for  relief  are  lost  in  the 
cries  of  the  spectators,  of  "  hold  on,  Dan,"  "  let  go  her 
head,"  "  two  colts,  a  blind  one  and  a  bolter,"  "  go  it, 
Dan,"  "  take  care  of  the  quarry  at  the  two  mile  turn." 
Relieved  from  torture  at  last,  by  the  benign  interposi- 
tion of  the  village  blacksmith,  with  swollen  fingers  and 
blue  nails  and  tearful  eyes,  I  survey  the  scene  without. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  entire  ignorance  of  the  duties 
assigned  to  them,  an  excited  horse,  one  of  the  leaders, 
actually  made  an  attempt  to  get  inside  the  coach.  Then 
the  two  "  leaders"  were  standing  on  their  hind  legs, 
going  through  all  the  evolutions  of  professional  boxers 
with  their  fore  legs,  whilst  the  two  others,  with  roatched 
backs  and  ears  glued  to  their  necks,  were  scrambling 
and  scratching  up  the  earth  for  some  awful  purpose  as 
yet  undeveloped.     For  reasons  not  worth  mentioning,  I 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  177 

was  about  to  abandon  my  position  inside  for  a  more 
favourable  one  without,  when  my  view  of  the  grinning 
faces  was  suddenly  closed  by  a  tremendous  jerk,  and  my 
heels  appeared  at  that  aperture  where  but  a  moment 
before  my  anxious  and  no  doubt  expressive  features  had 
protruded.  A  general  hurra  from  stable  boys  and  loafers, 
announced  the  fact  of  a  departure. 

It  would  be  in  vain  to  describe  that  ride ;  suffice  it  to 
say  that  I  was  knocked  about  like  a  pea  upon  a  drum- 
head, sometimes  against  the  top,  rebounding  from  a  hard 
seat  as  if  struck  beneath  with  a  sledge-hammer  by  a  giant 
—  now  holding  on  here  and  letting  go  there,  with  every 
sort  of  frantic,  wild  and  involuntary  evolution.  After 
one  hour's  work,  the  vehicle  was  brought  up  at  the  stop- 
ping-place with  a  jerk  that  literally  plastered  me  against 
the  front.  All  tremulous  with  rage,  I  descended  from 
the  infernal  machine — with  a  vow  never  to  re-enter 
another,  and  doubtful  which  of  the  evils  to  prefer,  a  jam 
with  nine  fat  heavy  fellows,  or  the  exclusive  property  of 
the  vehicle,  with  two  runaway  colts,  a  blind  one*,  a  bolter, 
and  a  remorseless  driver. 

My  excursion  on  the  railroad  I  told  you  of  in  one  of 
my  letters,  I  forget  which,  where  the  two  locomotives 
had  a  set-to — and  of  my  life's  being  saved  by  the  pro- 
vidential interference  of  the  fat  old  gentleman's  stomach, 
into  which  I  incontinently  pitched  my  cranium,  much  to 
my  own  satisfaction  but  to  the  no  small  discomfort  of 
that  amiable  individual.  The  excitement  there,  was 
sufficient  for  the  time,  but  it  was  short-lived.  Now  in 
Mississippi  they  have  the  art  of  keeping  it  up  for  hours. 
A  street  fight  admits  of  some  pleasing  variety.  The 
last  one  I  witnessed  at ,  deviated  a  little  from  the 


178  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

routine  of  those  amiable  and  interesting  exchanges  of 
civilities  ;  from  its  complication  partaking  somewhat  of 
the  melo-dramatic,  though  the  denouement  of  the  piece 
was  not  quite  as  tragical  as  might  have  been  anticipated, 
occasioning  therefore  some  discontent  and  dissatisfac- 
tion, yet  upon  the  whole  it  was  not  a  bad  piece. 

There  being  fourteen  on  a  side  armed  with  bowie 
knives,  hatchets  and  double-barrelled  guns,  there  was  a 
pleasing  variety  in  the  manner  and  effects  of  the  tout 
ensemble  movement  of  the  parties.  The  affair  com- 
menced with  a  discharge  of  a  load  of  buck-shot  at  a 
respectable  gentlemen,  who  for  reasons  best  known  to 
himself  was  precipitately  flying  round  the  corner  of  the 
State  House.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  testimonial,  which 
was  lodged  most  unequivocally  into  a  very  susceptible 
part  of  the  body,  a  flying  coat-tail  favouring  the  recep- 
tion, that  individual  acknowledged  the  "  soft  impeach- 
ment" by  some  curious  grimaces  and  distortions ;  if  a 
hive  of  bees  had  been  let  loose  upon  that  particular  spot, 
it  could  not  have  excited  more  lively  emotions.  It  was 
thought  by  some  that  he  "  piled  the  agony"  on  a  little 
too  hard,  and  rolling  and  writhing  about  upon  the  ground, 
was  decidedly  "  not  the  thing." 

The  other  gentlemen  were  now  actively  engaged  in 
the  performance  of  their  respective  duties,  interchang- 
ing in  the  most  frank,  lively  manner,  shots  from  pistols, 
thrusts  from  bowie  knives,  and  blows  from  hatchets, 
whilst  the  delighted  spectators  were  running  here  and 
there  to  get  out  of  the  line  of  fire,  and  applauding  when 
a  good  shot  was  made  or  blow  dealt  by  their  favourite 
champion. 

How  long  this  would  have  continued  it  is  impossible 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON,  179 

to  say,  had  not  the  Chief  Justice  interfered  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  some  amiable  Choctaws,  who  could  not  con- 
veniently go  to  court  while  so  many  curious  things  were 
flying  about. 

The  whole  gang  were  conveyed  to  the  Mayor's  office, 
a  small  shantee  with  one  large  window  and  door,  in 
which  was  seated  that  functionary  upon   a  high  stool, 
that  he  might  have   a  more  commanding  view  of  the 
litigant  parties.     The  sensibilities  of  one  of  the  gentle- 
men and  leader  of  the  late  conflict,  were  completely 
overcome ;  having  had  the   honour  to  receive  at  one 
time  a  donation  from  every  variety  of  weapon,  he  re- 
mained upon  the  field  motionless,  and  apparently  "  hors 
de  combat"  but  there  was  a  revivifying  energy  in  that 
gentleman's  body  which  forty  hatchets  could  not  knock 
out.    He  rose  therefore,  like  that  respectable  personage 
that  Hercules  threw  upon  the  ground,  and  who  wouldn't 
stay  thrown — an  indomitable  old  maid  I  should  suppose, 
from  the  familiar  appellation  of  Aunt— Aunt  Teus,  I 
think  she  was   called — and  after   deliberately  loading 
both  barrels  of  his  gun  with  eighteen  buck-shot  in  each, 
he  swore  he'd  have  a  crack  at  the  whole  covey,  and  as 
the  covey  was  gathered  at  that  moment  round  the  stool 
of  his  worship  the  Mayor,  both  loads  went  into  the  de- 
partment of  Justice,  crashing  the  panes  of  glass  and 
toppling  his  Excellency  off  of  his  high  place  with  wonder- 
ful celerity.     The  audience  rolled  out  of  the  door  laugh- 
ing heartily  at  the  "joke."     No  one  was  hurt,  however, 
except  his  Honour,  who  from   his  elevated  position  re- 
ceived one  shot  through  his  cheek  and  two  through  his 
hat.     Upon  some  one  observing  to  that  functionary  that 
this  infliction  might  have  been  spared  if  he  had  arrested 


180  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

the  parties  yesterday,  he  replied  that  "Jake  never  meant 
him  any  harm  ;  that  if  he  had  been  killed,  Jake  would 
have  buried  him  decently  at  his  own  expense."  This 
honourable  tribute  to  the  urbanity  and  friendly  feelings 
of  the  worthy  individual  who  had  perforated  his  cheek 
and  hat,  was  mumbled  out  between  a  finger  which  was 
groping  about  the  interior  of  his  jaws  in  search  of  some- 
thing that  appeared  to  incommode  him.  Upon  some 
one  respectfully  inquiring  what  he  was  feeling  for, 
"  Nothing,"  was  the  reply ;  "  I  was  only  afeard  some  of 
Jake's  cursed  plums  had  knocked  out  a  favourite  grinder 
of  mine."  However,  this  propensity  to  shoot  a  Mayor 
is  not  confined  entirely  to  the  southwest.  "  Wo  be 
unto  ye  that  sit  upon  high  places,"  not  only  in  this  in- 
stance but  in  another  farther  north,  the  prophecy  has 
been  verified.  To  "  draw  a  bead"  upon  a  Mayor  or 
President,  is  far  from  unfrequent,  and  will  become  quite 
fashionable  when  the  amiable  and  salutary  plea  of  in- 
sanity shall  be  established  upon  a  firmer  basis. 

These  are  specimens  of  field  sports,  but  we  must  look 
at  the  flood  as  well  as  field,  and  a  short  excursion  of  a 
five  days'  trip  from  New  Orleans  to  Louisville,  will  give 
the  traveller  a  sample  of  the  delights  of  that  kind  of 
recreation.  He  may  float  in  a  palace  with  every  luxury 
to  gratify  the  most  fastidious  taste,  and  enjoy  the  society 
of  elegant  ladies  and  accomplished  gentlemen,  or  he  may 
get  on  board  a  "  bully-boat,"  and  have  the  peculiar 
gratification  of  racing  day  and  night  with  another  bully- 
boat,  on  one  of  the  most  awful  rivers  of  the  world,  where 
every  kind  of  danger  imaginable  threatens  the  passenger 
— snags  and  sawyers  beneath  the  treacherous  surface  of 
the  roaring  flood,  fire,  bursting  boilers,  collisions  with 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  1  81 

other  boats — and  even  the  banks  of  this  stream,  when 
quietly  moored  alongside,  sink  into  the  vortex  of  waters, 
with  acres  of  forests  overwhelming  every  thing  within 
its  sphere. 

I  have  been  snagged  once  and  on  fire  twice,  but  a 
two  days'  race  with  bully-boats  combines  every  sort  of 
pleasing  excitement.  It  were  well  to  inform  you  that  a 
bully-boat,  means  a  boat  that  beats  every  thing  on  those 
waters,  and  performs  her  trips  in  an  astonishingly  short 
space  of  time.  But  here  they  come,  the  steam  at  every 
discharge  from  the  blow  pipes  sounds  like  cannon — a 
volume  of  white  vapour  flying  into  the  air,  as  if  fired 
from  a  culverin,  "  vum — vam — vum — vam" — there  they 
whirl  round  a  short  point,  called  the  Devil's  Tooth-comb ; 
side  by  side,  they  sweep  by  a  flat  boat,  dashing  the  spray 
over  its  unwieldy  sides — those  wild  neighbours  drop  the 
pine  tree  which  performs  the  duty  of  a  rudder  from  the 
stern,  and  hurra  with  delight,  with  cries  of"  Go  it,  boots!" 
"  Two  to  one  on  blue  streak  !"  "  Rosin  up,  Pike," — 
"  Beat  or  burst !"  The  boats  separate,  one  to  take  in 
wood  upon  the  left  bank,  the  other  upon  the  right,  and 
our  deck-passengers  rush  on  shore,  and  amidst  cries  of 
"  hurra  !  go  ahead  !"— u  in  with  it !"— in  a  few  minutes 
fifty  cords  of  split  ash  and  cotton  wood  are  piled  on 
either  side  the  boilers— cast  off,  away  she  goes,  her  oppo- 
nent swinging  out  from  her  wooding-place  at  the  same 
moment;  by  a  dexterous  management  of  the  helm,  the 
cut-water  of"  blue  streak"  cleaves  into  the  wheel-house 
of  the  rival;  in  a  moment  her  guard,  wheel-house,  and 
every  thing  is  tearing  up  from  stem  to  stern;  a 
passenger,  bed  and  all,  drops  astonished  out  of  his  state- 
room into  the  water,  and  floats  by  unheeded,  whilst  cries 


182  LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON. 

of  victory  resound  from  "  blue  streak" — and  the  pilot 
with  loud  voice,  as  the  rival  dashes  past  the  wreck, 
bestows  a  passing  compliment,  in  which  the  other  party 

is  particularly  requested  to  go  as  a  one-sided  son  of 

to  a  certain  place  not  remarkable  either  for  the  coolness 
of  its  temperature  or  the  virtues  of  its  inhabitants. 

Such  are  the  varied  pleasures  of  travelling,  pleasing 
and  exciting  to  many  who  have  never  enjoyed  them  as  I 
have,  and  therefore  cannot  fully  appreciate  my  present 
pure,  unmitigated  content  in  the  bosom  of  peaceful  Hog 
Hollow. 

Peaceful  rural  spot,  with  all  thy  sweet  tranquillity,  with 
what  infinite  pleasure  do  I  review  each  familiar  object, 
and  calmly  contemplate  the  tranquil  animation  of  the 
place.  Gentle  captivating  Betty  is  there  busy  with  her 
milkpail,  stooping  to  her  work  ;  my  eyeballs  troll  upon 
her  nine-pin  legs  peeping  below  her  short  linsey-woolsey 
petticoat  and  chequered  apron,  her  round  smiling  face 
buried  in  a  sun-bonnet. 

"  Our  Jake,"  an  interesting  specimen  of  the  genus 
"  cowboy" — whose  clear  whistle  resounds  through  the 
forest,  clears  the  bars  of  the  last  lingering  herd  trooping 
to  pasture.  With  meek  and  placid  mien  and  active  tails 
they  slowly  disappear  down  the  long  shady  lane ;  a  tail 
or  two  waves  a  parting  adieu,  and  they  are  gone.  The 
wide  barn  door  with  hawk  impaled  above,  stands  "  yawn- 
ing for  the  coming  harvest."  The  barn-yard  is  peopled 
with  a  busy  throng.  Balanced  on  one  leg,  there  stands 
the  same  old  rooster,  upon  the  very  block  where  so  many 
of  his  progeny  had  suffered  under  the  hand  of  remorse- 
less Betty.     With  upturned  eye  he  watches  the  hawk 


LETTERS  FROM  ISAAC  WALTON.  183 

that  with  steady  wing  in  gigantic  circles  sweeps  the  sky, 
and  cr-o-o-s  a  warning  to  the  surrounding  group. 

From  this  busy  scene  I  wander  forth,  rod  in  hand,  and 
soon  am  once  more  engaged  in  all  the  delights  of 
cherishing  a  nibble,  where  you  will  permit  me  to  rest  till 
you  hear  from  me  again. 

Your  friend, 

Isaac  Walton,  Jr. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

From  camp  to  camp,  through  the  foul  womb  of  night, 

The  hum  of  either  army  stilly  sounds, 

That  the  fix'd  sentinels  almost  receive 

The  secret  whispers  of  each  other's  watch  : 

Fire  answers  fire ;  and  through  their  paly  flames 

Each  battle  sees  the  other's  number'd  face. 

Steed  threatens  steed,  in  high  and  boastful  neighs, 

Piercing  the  night's  dull  ear  ;  and  from  the  tents, 

The  armourers,  accomplishing  the  knights, 

With  busy  hammers  closing  rivets  up, 

Give  dreadful  note  of  preparation. 

Shakspeare. 

After  the  capture  of  Fort  George  in  1813,  the  British 
forces  retired  to  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  were 
followed  by  the  troops  of  the  United  States  under  the 
command  of  Generals  Winder  and  Chandler.  The  scene 
of  the  following  incident  is  laid  at  a  place  called  Stony 
Creek,  afterwards  famous  as  a  bloody  battle-field  where, 
for  the  first  time,  the  British  and  American  troops  crossed 
bayonets. 

The  American  army  was  bivouacked  upon  ground 
selected  with  a  view  not  only  for  defence,  but  for  an 
attack   upon   the   encampment   of    the    enemy,   which 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR   OF  1812.  185 

it  was  intended  should  be  executed  at  an  hour  before 
daybreak.  The  guards  were  properly  stationed  and 
the  artillery  put  in  position  to  defend  the  approaches  to 
the  encampment.  The  gallant  Towson  was  the  senior 
captain  of  artillery,  his  company  was  therefore  entrusted 
with  the  defence  of  the  road  by  which  the  enemy  must 
approach,  if  an  attack  should  be  made  ;  but  though 
every  precaution  was  taken,  there  was  little  probability 
of  such  an  event  occurring,  as  the  enemy  had  as  yet 
scarcely  recovered  from  the  confusion  incident  to  a 
precipitate  retreat,  with  the  sacrifice  of  all  their  artillery, 
baggage  and  stores. 

The  sun  had  sunk  behind  a  bank  of  clouds,  and  the 
landscape  was  already  stained  with  the  dark  hues  of 
night.  The  measured  tramp  of  bodies  of  men  taking 
up  their  positions,  was  heard  at  intervals  upon  the  plain, 
with  the  stern,  brief,  military  commands  of  the  officers, 
and  the  rattling  of  arms  and  accoutrements. 

The  busy  soldiers  round  the  camp-fires,  cooking  their 
evening  meal,  cast  moving  and  gigantic  shadows  upon 
the  tall  forest-trees.  Through  the  damp  dewy  air,  from 
a  distant  outpost  could  be  distinctly  heard  the  sentinel 
challenging  the  rounds.  The  hum  of  many  voices  gra- 
dually subsided ;  a  general  silence  reigned  throughout  the 
encampment,  whilst  an  occasional  call  from  the  deep- 
toned  bugle  was  answered  by  the  melancholy  notes  of 
the  whippoorwill  from  the  forest. 

Towson,  who  had  never  for  one  moment  left  his 
battery,  after  it  had  been  planted  upon  the  road,  but 
having  made  every  preparation  for  any  sudden  emer- 
gency, was   silently  pacing   in  the  rear  of  his  pieces, 

13 


186  AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

whilst  his  men  were  reclining  upon  the  ground.  The 
night  was  dark,  and  those  clouds,  which  at  sunset 
had  thickly  settled  upon  the  eastern  horizon,  were  now 
spread  over  the  sky  and  shrouded  every  thing  in  gloom; 
not  even  a  star  was  visible.  The  night  waned  fast, 
and  the  chill  damps  of  the  morning  began  to  be  felt. 
Suddenly,  in  the  advance  of  his  battery,  a  bright  light 
flashed  in  the  distance,  followed  immediately  by  the  report 
of  a  single  musket.  In  a  few  seconds  every  man  of  that 
encampment  had  sprung  to  his  feet,  and  the  silence  gave 
place  to  the  rattling  of  arms,  and  the  hum  of  voices,  as 
the  respective  corps  assumed  their  several  stations. 
Towson's  cannon  were  charged  with  round  and  grape 
shot,  and  the  matches  burning,  ready  at  any  moment  for 
action. 

"  It's  a  false  alarm,"  said  an  active  blue-eyed,  ruddy- 
cheeked  youth,  whose  single  gold  epaulette,  declared 
him  a  lieutenant.  But  on  the  instant  he  sprang  to  his 
post  with  an  alacrity  which  plainly  evinced  not  only  his 
readiness  for  any  orders,  but  delight  at  the  prospect  of 
an  engagement. 

"  Shall  we  commence  firing,  sir?' 

"Not  yet,  M'Donough,"  replied  Towson,  "  it  may  be 
a  false  alarm;  an  enemy  who  has  sacrificed  both  artil- 
lery and  baggage  to  enable  him  to  escape,  is  not  likely 
to  become  an  assailant:  at  all  events  time  must  be 
allowed  for  the  guard  to  come  in,  or  we  shall  destroy 
our  own  men.  The  words  had  hardly  been  uttered 
when  a  horseman  at  full  speed  galloped  up  to  the  bat- 
tery, nor  did  he  check  his  career  till  the  breast  of  the 
animal  touched  the  muzzle  of  one  of  the  guns.     He 


AN  INCIDENT  OP  THE  WAR  OF  1812.  187 

was  enveloped  in  an  overcoat,  but,  by  the  light  of  a 
fire  fanned  into  a  blaze  by  a  passing  breeze,  it  was 
evident  from  his  chateau  de  bras,  that  he  was  an  offi- 
cer, whether  British  or  American,  remained  doubtful. 
M'Donough  rushed  to  the  horse's  head,  seized  the  bridle, 
and,  with  the  point  of  his  sword  within  an  inch  of  the 
intruder's  breast,  demanded  his  name  and  purpose.  The 
answer, "  a  friend,"  was  given  unhesitatingly  and  prompt- 
ly; M'Donough  let  go  his  hold  of  the  bridle,  and  dropped 
the  point  of  his  sword — at  the  same  moment  the  horse 
was  wheeled  round  upon  his  haunches,  the  spurs  dashed 
into  his  flanks,  and  his  hoofs  were  heard  clattering 
down  the  long  lane  at  a  reckless  speed. 

There  was  no  longer  any  doubt  of  the  real  charac- 
ter of  the  horseman.  It  was  a  British  officer,  leading 
a  force  to  the  attack.  The  column  was  advancing 
rapidly.  Some  two  hundred  paces  forward  of  Tow- 
son's  guns,  of  whose  position  the  enemy  were  now 
apprised,  there  was  another  lane  into  which  their 
column  of  attack  could  wheel,  if  the  dashing  officer 
who  had  unexpectedly  stumbled  upon  the  battery,  should 
reach  there  in  time.  He  then  might  attack  the  flank 
instead  of  the  centre  of  the  American  line,  as  evidently 
was  the  first  intention.  Such  a  movement  must  be 
fatal  to  the  American  force.  There  was  but  one  way 
to  prevent  this,  and  that  was  the  immediate  destruction 
of  the  gallant  horseman  ere  he  reached  the  head  of  his 
column.  The  explosion  from  either  piece,  fully  charged 
as  they  were  with  cannister  shot,  must  annihilate  horse 
and  rider.  All  these  thoughts  flashed  like  lightning 
upon  the  youthful  commander  of  that  battery,  upon 
whose  vigilance  depended  the  safety  of  the  army  and 


188  AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

honour  of  his  country's  flag.  Towson  did  not  hesitate 
to  give  the  order;  though  his  noble  heart  for  a  mo- 
ment swelled  with  feelings  of  pity  for  the  soldier 
whose  daring  conduct  even  in  the  heat  of  battle  would 
command  respect  from  one  equally  brave.  Stern  mili- 
tary duty  conquered  the  struggling  sentiment.  The 
lighted  matches  were  applied  to  the  pieces. 

Soldiers  are  apt  to  believe  in  destiny — founded,  per- 
haps, upon  the  many  miraculous  escapes  like  the  one 
we  are  now  recording.  There  was  no  explosion  from 
either  gun.  Again  and  again  were  the  matches  applied, 
with  repeated  cries  from  Towson  to  fire.  "  They  will 
not  go  oft',  sir.  Something  is  wrong,  sir,"  replied  M'Do- 
nough,  as  he  seized  the  match  and  whirled  it  round, 
and  again  applied  it  to  the  touch-hole.  In  an  instant 
it  occurred  to  the  commander  that  there  might  be 
treachery  here — and  that  the  guns  were  spiked.  This 
would  account  for  that  horseman  so  fearlessly  riding 
up  to  their  very  muzzles.  The  gallant,  daring  and 
brave  soldier,  who  was  always  foremost  in  battle, 
and  courted  danger  in  every  shape,  now  trembled  at 
the  thought  of  dishonour  and  disgrace,  which  inevitably 
must  follow.  His  battery  would  be  carried  without 
resistance,  and  the  fate  of  the  army  decided.  Almost 
paralysed  in  every  limb  by  these  thoughts  that  crowded 
upon  his  mind,  and  arrested  for  a  moment  the  pulsa- 
tions of  a  heart  which  beat  alone  for  glory — he  rushed 
frantically  to  the  nearest  piece,  with  the  hope  of  un- 
spiking  at  least  one  of  the  guns.  With  trembling  hand 
he  felt  the  priming.  It  was  there.  The  night  mists 
had  dampened  the  powder.  He  flew  to  a  camp  fire, 
snatched  from   the  smouldering   and  scattered  heap  a 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR  OF   1812.  189 

brand,  and  applied  it.  An  explosion  followed,  which 
shook  the  dull  air  of  night,  and  as  piece  after  piece 
burst  forth  in  flame  and  smoke,  he  involuntary  waved 
his  hat  over  his  head.  It  was  the  music  he  loved,  and 
the  strains  were  never  heard  by  that  gallant  artillery 
officer  with  more  enthusiastic  delight.  All  this  occurred 
in  the  shortest  possible  time,  but  the  delay  was  suffi- 
cient to  enable  the  hero  of  the  night  to  regain  the  head 
of  his  column  unscathed  by  the  iron  hail  which  hurtled 
through  that  narrow  lane.  He  had  changed  the  direc- 
tion of  his  column  of  attack,  but  the  rear  companies 
suffered  terribly  under  the  repeated  discharges  from 
Towson's  "  light  house." 

It  was  afterwards  understood  that  the  daring  officer 
who  led  the  British  column  and  had  planned  the  attack, 
was  the  assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the  British  forces. 
He  is  now  Major  General  Sir  John  Harvey. 


THE  END. 


limit 

Hi   lilt: 


i    ■   1 1 1 1 1 1 


■ 


11 

\\M\ 


**4i 


